Poland's Travel & Tourism Set to Reach New Heights in 2025

Poland's Travel & Tourism sector is set to surpass economic records in 2025, with a projected contribution of PLN 165.5BN to GDP, surpassing the previous peak in 2019 by 5.9%. Domestic visitor spending is forecast to reach PLN 44.9BN, exceeding 2019 levels by 10.8%, while international visitor spending is expected to remain 2.8% below 2019 levels. The sector is projected to support 901,100 jobs, surpassing 2019 employment levels.

Poland's Travel & Tourism sector is poised to achieve significant milestones in 2025, according to the latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The sector is projected to contribute PLN 165.5BN to the country's GDP, surpassing the previous peak in 2019 by 5.9%. This represents a substantial recovery from the pandemic-induced slowdown.

Domestic visitor spending is forecast to reach PLN 44.9BN, marking a 10.8% increase over 2019 levels. This growth indicates a strong local travel demand. However, international visitor spending is expected to remain 2.8% below 2019 levels, reaching PLN 76.9BN. This suggests a need for accelerated inbound recovery efforts to attract more international travelers.

The sector is also projected to support 901,100 jobs, surpassing the 2019 employment levels. This growth in jobs is a positive sign for the Polish economy, indicating the sector's resilience and potential for further expansion.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, noted the promising signs of long-term growth and emphasized the importance of continued investment in connectivity, infrastructure, and destination marketing to drive inbound growth and maximize tourism's economic impact.

In 2024, the sector contributed PLN 144.5BN to GDP and supported 884,400 jobs, showing a gradual recovery from the pandemic. By 2035, WTTC forecasts that the Travel & Tourism sector could contribute PLN 221.8BN to GDP, accounting for 4.8% of Poland’s economy, and create over 987,300 jobs.

In contrast, the U.S. airline industry faced significant challenges in Q1 2025, reporting a collective loss of $225 million. This loss is attributed to weak travel demand, falling bookings, and economic uncertainty. Both domestic and international travel operations logged net losses, with domestic travel showing deeper weakness. The decline in international visitor arrivals is particularly concerning, with a projected loss of $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025.

The U.S. airlines are hoping for a rebound in the coming months, particularly around major travel holidays like the Fourth of July. However, experts caution that relying solely on seasonal demand may not be sufficient for a sustained recovery. The industry needs federal action to stabilize inbound travel and restore global confidence in visiting the U.S.

References:
[1] https://wttc.org/news/travel-and-tourism-in-poland-set-to-surpass-economic-records
[2] https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/delta-southwest-american-frontier-us-airlines-q1-2025-loss-travel-demand-decline/