Poland’s Travel & Tourism sector is on track for a milestone year, with 2025 projections showing a return to pre-pandemic strength in GDP contribution and domestic visitor spending, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

According to the latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), this year Travel & Tourism is expected to contribute PLN 165.5BN to Poland’s economy, representing 4.4% of national GDP. This would surpass the previous peak in 2019 by 5.9%, marking a new record for the sector’s economic impact.

The sector is projected to support 901,100 jobs, which surpasses 2019 employment levels.

Domestic visitor spending is forecast to reach PLN 44.9BN, exceeding 2019 levels by 10.8%, a clear sign of strong local travel demand.

International visitor spending, however, is expected to remain 2.8% below 2019 levels, reaching PLN 76.9BN. This highlights an ongoing need to accelerate inbound recovery and competitiveness in attracting international travellers.

A Look Back to 2024

In 2024, the sector contributed PLN 144.5BN to GDP, equal to 4% of the economy, still 7.5% below the 2019 peak.

The sector supported 884,400 jobs, continuing a gradual recovery in employment, 2.7% above 2019 levels

Domestic visitor spending reached PLN 42.8BN, a 5.6% increase compared to 2019, while international visitor spending totalled PLN 63.1BN, remaining 20.1% below 2019 levels, despite signs of year-on-year improvement.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Poland’s Travel & Tourism sector is showing promising signs of long-term growth. With economic contribution and domestic travel both set to break records this year, the foundations are clearly in place.

“To fully unlock the sector’s potential, continued investment in connectivity, infrastructure, and destination marketing will be key to driving inbound growth and maximising tourism’s economic impact.”

A Look Ahead to 2035

By 2035, WTTC forecasts the Travel & Tourism sector could contribute PLN 221.8BN to GDP, accounting for 4.8% of Poland’s economy.

Employment is expected to reach surpass 987,300 jobs, reflecting the creation of more than 86,000 new roles over the next decade.

Domestic visitor spending is projected to climb to PLN 57.7BN, while international spending could grow to PLN 107.9BN, narrowing the gap with historic peaks and unlocking new economic value.

A Glimpse into the European Union

In 2024, the EU Travel & Tourism sector contributed almost €1.8TN to the region's GDP, representing more than 10% of the Bloc’s economy, and above 2019 levels by almost 6%. The sector’s employment grew by 4.7%, year-on-year, to 24.6 million jobs, accounting for one in nine jobs across the region.

By the end of 2025, WTTC forecasts that the EU Travel & Tourism sector will reach almost €1.9TN, representing 10.5% of the EU economy. Employment linked to the sector is estimated to total 25.7 million people, or 12% of the regional total.