From 23 July, Cracovians will see a sculpture of the patron of the tenement house on the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace. St. Krzysztof returned here after 230 years. “After many years, St. Krzysztof will again take care of this part of the city” – says Dr. Michał Niezabitowski, director of the Krakow Museum.
Ceremonial unveiling – 23rd of July 2021
Although some Cracovians had the opportunity to see the moment when the figure of the patron saint of the palace appeared on the building, its ceremonial unveiling took place on July 23 at 13.20. St. Krzysztofory on the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace – after 230 years of absence – coincided with the opening of the building after many years of renovation.
“One of the elements of the palace’s return to the public is the return of St. Krzysztof, who was thrown from the facade at the end of the 18th century by the then owner of the palace, Jacek Kluszewski. A few years ago, we unveiled the niche, and after many years, St. Krzysztof will take care of this part of the city again”, explained Dr. Michał Niezabitowski, director of the Krakow Museum, which has its headquarters in the Krzysztofory Palace.
Krzysztofory Palace dates back to the 13th century!
The origins of the tenement house at 35 Rynek Główny, now the seat of the Krakow Museum, date back to the 13th century. Its name was supposed to come from the statue of St. Christopher (St. Krzysztof). According to popular iconography, the sculpture was to depict a saint carrying the Baby Jesus across the river. 230 years ago, in 1791, the last figure of the saint was removed from the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace by the then owner of the palace, Jacek Kluszewski, and the niche was bricked up.
It is not known what happened to the figure after it disappeared from Krzysztofory. One of the theories was that the fragments of the damaged statue of St. Krzysztof, in the collection of the National Museum in Krakow, which would be confirmed by the story that the sculpture was not removed, but thrown, which caused protests from residents and church hierarchs. However, according to the latest research related to the unveiling of a niche on the facade of a tenement house at 35 Main Square eight years ago, it appears that it was probably not it.
A new statue for the patron Saint
The author of the new presentation of the patron of Krzysztofory is prof. Aleksander Śliwa, winner of the competition announced by the Krakow Museum this spring.
My darlings, it is so nice to have you again dropping over to listen to my rantings. Today I wanted to continue the series of Things You Should Know About Krakow as it seems you have rather enjoyed the first post on this topic. So without any further ado, let me share with you my knowledge. I have lived in Krakow for over 10 years now, so… as I like to point out: SHARING IS CARING! 🙂
1. Save money with Krakow Card
Not only in Krakow but the City Cards can also be found in any of the big cities around the world. I have used them in Paris, in Vienna and London and they always come in handy. They come paired with a free map that holds all the hot spots that you should go to + discounts for the museums and specific shops + free public transport. Depending on your stay in this fair city, you can select a 1-day card at 25 dollars or a 2 day for 40 dollars or a 3 day for 45 dollars. The longer the stay the cheaper the card gets and the more discounts 😉 You can buy the card online or from any of the Info Points in Krakow. There are several Krakow Museums for free with it, so do make sure you look into this offer before you book your trip here!
2. Enjoy Krakow by Walking
There is no method better to really feel the beating heart of a city than by walking it and mingling with the locals! The Krakow Old Town – Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter – Podgorze… they are all within walking distance. The pavements are good and the only problem you might encounter is if you will take high heels, as the streets in Old Town Krakow are cobblestoned. Wear flats or some sports shoes that you are comfy in and you are set up for the day. When I first came here – 10 years ago – I would roam the streets all day long, looking for new nooks and corners that brought up the magic of this city. I still do that… when time permits 🙂 If you are too tired, you can always grab a tram. They are fast and almost always on time (exception: when we have heavy rain/rainstorm and the streets tend to get flooded).
3. Experience Street Food
Street food in Krakow is not the regular street food you would think of. There are plenty of food trucks spread around the city that provide healthy snack options for everyone. Some offer meals in a jar – from local market products – some even offer hand-rolled fresh sushi! But the more traditional options include maczanka krakowska (kinda like a hamburger on a bun), zapiekanka (kinda like pizza, but on a half of a baguette, with loads of toppings), obwarzanek (kinda like a pretzel but… not quite), or paczki (kinda like donuts but without the whole in the middle).
4. The devil is in the small details
You need to be prepared in detail for this trip, before heading out to Krakow. We have here cobbled streets – so no high heels for you! We have the electricity supply at 220 V – so the visitors from the US/UK will need adaptors for their electronic devices! We have a pretty strict rule about medicine and most of it is sold on a recipe – make sure you bring your own, or else you will probably need a doctor to prescribe you something and there is a possibility that the drug you use might not be on the market here!
5. You must try the local cuisine
Obwarzanek Krakowski – Protected by the EU Traditional Foods list. It is kinda like a pretzel or a bagel but a different process to it and taste. To learn more about its history and significance, I encourage you to go to the Obwarzanek Muzeum in Krakow.
Oscypek – Highlanders Cheese, straight from the mountains. It can be smoked as well. Paired with zurawina (cranberry) jam is marvelous! You can find it at any of the fairs around Krakow and it is a #mustEat when in the area. Usually brought in from the Zakopane region.
Kremówka papieska – This classic dessert was a childhood favorite of Pope John Paul II – and when the people of Poland found out, they renamed it ‘Papal cream cake’ in his honor. It is a typical, traditional Polish dessert – very old-school. Everybody loves it!
Maczanka krakowska – crusty bun to be loaded with the tender, juicy pork, and soaked until dripping in delicious onion gravy. One of the best “hamburgers” you will have 😉
Saint Mary’s Basilica (Kosciol Mariacki) has always been a symbol of Krakow. A Symbol containing multiple other Krakow Symbols, like The wooden carved altar by Veit Stoss or the Bugle Call Tower with its Hejnal or The Legend of the 2 Brothers. After Tartar raids in the 13th century left the original church in ruins, St. Mary’s Church was rebuilt in Gothic style on the existing foundations and consecrated in 1320. In the early 15th century the towers took the iconic form they have today when the northern tower was raised to 80m high and made into a watchtower for the city. From that watchtower, the Bugle Call plays every day, every hour, no matter rain or shine!
How can one visit the Bugle Call Tower – Mariacki Church?
The Tower cannot be visited during all the months of the year, so make sure you don’t plan to visit it during wintertime as it is closed then. There is always a chance of frost on the stairs so only the Bugle Call player gets to go on top. But! During the summer months, it is always open for visitors and you can check the schedule below.
From July to October (except religious holidays) Monday — closed from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10.00 a.m.- 6.00 a.m. Sundays – 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
January, February, March, November, December — closed
The ticket price, as of July 2021 is 15 Zloty per person or 10 for 7 to 18 years olds.
Things you should know about the tour
Children up to 7 years old are not allowed to go – due to the steep steps (danger ahead!)
There is a limited amount of tickets everyday. You cannot book/buy tickets in adavnce. Just for the same day. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office only (Plac Mariacki 7).
Children between 7 and 18 years old get a discount.
People with walking dissabilities cannot get to the top as there is no elevator or method to pull up any wheelchairs 🙁 sorry for that 🙁
In case of bad weather the tour (just like the Eiffel Tower, in Paris) gets closed down.
The Tower entrance is located on the side of Mariacki Church, from Florianska Street.
A group of no more than 10 people can enter every 30 minutes.
Did you know?
That the Bugle Call (Hejnal) players are actually firemen? They stay there (up in the tower) on shifts that are 12 hours long! They need to “get to work” by climbing the 271 steps, every day, and they play the Hejnal every hour, for their 12-hour shift. Before the stairs were built, there was no way to get on top except with the help of a very tall ladder (wooden). Thank God they don’t use that anymore!
Yours always truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug that loves views from the top (of the world)
It will be a unique opportunity to see the panorama of Kraków and Małopolska from the top of the Kościuszko Mound at sunset. On June 21, Kościuszko Mound will be open to visitors longer. This is a special action organized on the occasion of Kupala Night, on the longest day of the year.
Kościuszko Mound is a unique place with a beautiful panorama of the city and its surroundings. We know that there are people who would like to stay longer at the Mound, watch the sunset, and Krakow at night. That is why we decided to make it possible.
Leszek Cierpiałowski, director of the office of the Kosciuszko Mound Committee in Krakow
Kupała Night & the special ticket from Kościuszko Mound
On Monday, June 21, the sun will set at 8:53 pm. The mound will then be open to tourists until 21.30. During this time, it will also be possible to visit the Kościuszko Museum and the multimedia permanent exhibition “Kościuszko – a hero still needed”. On this day, from 7 p.m., a promotional ticket price will apply – tourists will visit the Mound on the basis of reduced tickets (PLN 14).
We encourage you to come to the Mound earlier and take advantage of all the attractions available in the ticket.
Leszek Cierpiałowski, director of the office of the Kosciuszko Mound Committee in Krakow
In addition to the modern exhibition, you can also visit an educational route devoted to the private life of Kościuszko and an exhibition of wax figures, see a model of the Kościuszko Mound and the Kościuszko garden and take a walk along charming alleys on the way to the Mound. Children can enjoy the playground with a miniature of the Kościuszko Tower and a special sightseeing path at the core exhibition.
My darlings, it is so nice to have you again dropping over to listen to my rantings. Today I wanted to continue the series of Things You Should Know About Krakow as it seems you have rather enjoyed the first post on this topic. So without any further ado, let me share with you my knowledge. I have lived in Krakow for over 10 years now, so… as I like to point out: SHARING IS CARING! 🙂
1. Validating public transport tickets
In order to use public transport in Krakow – be it a tram or bus – you must first buy a ticket. Small kiosks sell them, but your quickest and safest option is buying them from the MPK vendor machines. You will be able to spot them right away as they are present next to the tram/bus stops and they have the colors of the city: white and blue. The nice thing about them is that you can pay either by cash or card (even PayPass/contactless or BLIK). The menu is in several languages: Polish (main, of course…), English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
The MPK (Public Transport Authority of Krakow) tickets can be for single usage – 20 min, 40 min, 60 min – but there are also weekend tickets (or week-long or even monthly ones) that you can use on your stay in the city. However, if you will look at point #3 below, and if you plan to really get to know Krakow… you can always walk it and get a tram only if you are tired or if it rains. But when you do take a tram/bus, make sure you do these 2 basic steps: 1) Buy a ticket; 2) When entering the bus/tram make sure you validate it by using the yellow boxes on the bars inside. Without validation your ticket means nothing, and if you will get caught you will have to pay a big fine!
2. Drinking in public
It is illegal to drink in Public in Poland! Don’t even try it as you will get a fine! Public spaces – including parks, benches, and everywhere else you may try to open a beer to cool yourself on a hot day – are off-limits!
You can, however, choose to go to a pub or lay down and enjoy the sun from a terrace, while sipping on your Aperol Spritz or your beer. Outdoor seating areas that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages do not count 😉 However, if you take your drink and step outside of the premises to have a smoke… you’re up for a fine!
Drinking alcohol in public places can land you in a dry-out cell for the night and you may get also a hefty fine. The legal blood-alcohol limit for driving is just 0.02 percent! The fines can get up to 300 euros + the “prison” sentence for the night, so you can sober up.
3. Book a hotel in Old Town or very near it
If you wish to have a nice stay in Kraków, not be touristy and actually experience the city like a local, then you should book an Airbnb or apartment in the Old Town. Or if you wish to splurge, take a hotel – there are plenty to choose from! Why Old Town, you may ask, rightly so… well… everything is within walking distance. You need not get a cab, or even public transport, as all the most notable places can be reached and discovered on foot.
It is true, the streets in the Old Town are cobbled stoned so high heels would definitely not be a good fit. Think sports shoes and flats and you’ll be fine 😉 plus, by walking you will truly learn and feel the heartbeat of the city. Make sure you check the side streets, the small shops, the old-school architecture of the “Kamienicca” – most buildings in the Old Town are from the 18-1900s. Unlike Warsaw (which was heavily bombed during the Second World War and destroyed almost 90%), Kraków has managed to keep its historic buildings.
4. If visiting avoid June-August (High Season)
I know everybody loves taking time off for holidays during summertime, but if you will choose the months of June, July and August to come visit Kraków, than be prepared for loads of tourists. Those 3 months consist of the High Season here.
Instead of summer, I highly recommend you to try the Polish Autumn. It’s not as hot, the trees are changing their leaves and they look marvelous, you can taste the famous fresh “szarlotka” (PL: apple pie) and local ciders (which are absolutely yummy!). Also, if you are a fan of skiing, winter may be a good time to come over too. The Tatra mountains are near (Zakopane is just a few hours away) and you can enjoy the lovely views.
5. Pre-book tickets for the museums online
Museums in Kraków are definitely worth being put on the list. Everyone will be able to see something interesting: from 19th century paintings as big as an entire wall, by the local artist Jan Matejko, to the Stained Glass windows; from modern art at MOCAK to Spitfires at the Aviation Museum; from real mummies (including a cat mummy!) to pages of the original Book of Death. You name it, Kraków has it!
The best way to experience the museums is without the queues though. For that, you can always go online and reserve and even pay for the tickets. Print them or download them to your phone and just get to the museum at the designated time. There are multiple branches that you can choose from, so just click here for the full list.
Today I just wanted to share with you a piece of history about Krakow.
Did You Know that on this very day, 764 years ago, on the 5th of June 1257, Krakow was established officially as a city and acquired the Magdeburg Laws? Did You Know that Krakow still holds the record for the longest time of serving as the capital city of Poland – it would perform the function 3 times in its history, loosely between 1040 and 1609.
However, Krakow was marked in history as an important town, and frequently visited trading center, as early as the 9th century! Archeologists date the oldest material evidence of human settlements excavated in the city to circa 200,000 BC. In the year 1038 Krakow became the capital of Poland.
Duke Bolesław V the Chaste proclaimed the establishment on the 5th of June 1257
The establishment of a new town under Magdeburg law, proclaimed on 5 June 1257 by Duke Bolesław V the Chaste (whose reign spanned 1243–1279), was a foundational event for Kraków/Cracow in the true sense of the word. Notwithstanding the primarily legal and planning-based character of the endeavor, the city’s foundation generated significant momentum for societal change. Within a relatively short space of time, Kraków, originally consisting of a ducal castle and a settlement at its foot, grew into a European metropolis, one of the contemporary continent‘s premier mercantile centers and the seat of a noteworthy political self-administration.
Krakow was not built in a day!
Like Rome, Kraków was not built in a day; preparations for the city’s establishment had begun many years before it became a reality. The plan for the city came into being at the court of Bolesław V’s father, Duke Leszek the White (d. 1227), and it continued under the auspices of Henry the Bearded (d. 1238) and of his son. These dukes, whose reign occurred in the turbulent period of the struggle for ducal ascendancy at Wawel Castle, perceived Kraków as possessing the capacity to secure their position throughout Poland. Isolated, yet unambiguous sources bear witness to the emergence between 1220 and 1241 of Kraków’s first, short-lived civic community, whose demise is associated with the political catastrophe that befell the Silesian Piast dynasty with the Mongol invasion of Poland in 1241.
Wawel Cathedral records from 1257
The annals kept by the Kraków chapter of what was known as the Wawel cathedral record that in 1257, ‘Cracoviensis civitas iuri Theutonico traditur et situs fori per advocatos et domorum et curiarum immutatur’ (The city of Kraków was placed under German law and the reeves altered the positions of squares, houses, and lordly residences). The chronicler, installed upon the Wawel Hill as the symbol representing the Kraków chapter’s seat, had clearly deemed these events worthy of recording for posterity. What he could not have known, and we know from our temporal vantage point of several centuries, is the extent of the changes, in terms of urban planning, demography, the economic and political sphere, and indeed of society, which were emerging in Kraków.
The Road Authority of the City of Krakow presented the immediate plans for the construction of city parking lots. The construction of park & ride car parks in Bronowice and at the Hutnik hall in Nowa Huta is to begin this year. Tenders for the design of another 6 park & ride parking lots, including the extension of the existing facility in Ruczaj, are also to be announced. There are also plans for smaller neighborhood car parks.
This year, the Roads Authority of the City of Krakow plans to start the construction of 2 park & ride parking lots. The first of them, for about 200 places, is to be built as part of the construction of the transfer junction in Bronowice.
Parking park and ride Bronowice
The contract for the construction of the node in Bronowice has been signed, we have concepts, now the contractor will start design works, then construction works – we plan that they will start at the end of the year
ZDMK
As part of the investment, a public transport bus station will be designed, equipped with the infrastructure necessary for passenger service, in particular: bus parking spaces, stops, ticket sales points, waiting rooms, information systems, and toilets.
The station will be located inside the connector of the road junction at ul. Balicka and the Home Army. The roofing bus station is to be the first tier multi-level parking for cars where the driver and leaving your vehicle will be able to change for the tram, bus, or train (park and ride systems). The investment is to be carried out by Budimex, which submitted a tender for PLN 51.6 million.
“Suche Stawy” park and ride parking at the Hutnika Kraków hall
In the case of the park & ride car park “Suche Stawy” Suche Stawy, ZDMK plans to announce a tender so that the first works will start this year. The car park is to be built in the vicinity of the tram stop “Suche Stawy”, the Sports and Entertainment Hall “Suche Stawy”, the City Stadium Hutnik Kraków (Suche Stawy), the Sports and Recreation Center Com-Com Zone Nowa Huta.
This parking lot for approx. 90 vehicles has been planned for several years. The idea for this investment is to renovate the damaged surface of the existing above-ground car park in front of the Hutnik hall made of concrete slabs. The lighting will also be recreated with the electricity supply system.
In order to adapt the car park for the needs of the “park and ride” system, devices with the parking system software will be installed. Among them, there will be terminals, barriers, automatic cash register, monitoring, and a visual information system – boards informing about the car park filling status.
More park & ride car parks in Krakow are planned
In addition, it is planned to announce a tender for the development of design documentation along with obtaining construction permits for the following tasks:
extension (superstructure) of the P&R Czerwone Maki car park in Ruczaj;
P&R “Mydlniki SKA” (SKA – fast agglomeration railway) car park, next to the railway stop (ul. Balicka-Gradowa);
P&R “Bieżanów-Drożdżownia SKA” car park at the Kraków Drożdżownia railway stop (area at the intersection of Rakuś – Zamłynie – Lipowskiego Streets);
P&R “Olszanica” car park at the railway stop, Powstania Styczeńowego street;
P&R “Księcia Józefa” car park (Wodociągowa Street);
parking in the vicinity of the Kraków – Opatkowice SKA railway stop.
Additional parking spaces for cars
As part of other investment tasks, ZDMK also plans the:
construction of a car park on the estate At Arka 5, on an area of approximately 300 sq m (design documentation is to be developed in 2021);
construction of parking bays on the estate 2 Pułku Lotniczego in the area of block 46 on the area of approx. 260 square meters (design documentation is to be developed in 2021)
construction of parking spaces on the estate Green, bl. 15-16 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the construction of parking spaces on an area of approx. 115 sq m is planned to start);
construction of parking spaces on the estate Spółdzielczy, bl. 8 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the construction of parking spaces on an area of approximately 400 sq m is to be started);
reconstruction and extension of the car park in front of the Jordanian garden at ul. Kielecka 9 (in 2021, the development of design documentation is to be completed and the investment will be completed, parking spaces will be built on a total area of approx. 290 sq m).
Housing estate car parks
As part of the parking space construction program, this year the following car parks are to be built:
on os. Metallurgical – a contract was signed for the development of design documentation (deadline June 2021),
at ul. Zuchów – a contract for the development of design documentation was signed (deadline June 2021).
The Rząska-Mydlniki-Wapiennik park and ride car park is being completed
The construction of the Rząska-Mydlniki-Wapiennik transfer junction with a park & ride car park for 87 cars is near the end. “The contractual completion date for the investment is April 2021. There are, among others, terminal equipment, technical building, installation of lighting poles, transformer station, target road marking” – informs the ZDMK.
Currently, works related to the construction of parking spaces at ul. Czerwieński.
Original article, in Polish language, can be found in Gazeta Krakowska.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic impact on Krakow’s tourism industry. Will Krakow ever return to the pre-pandemic level of tourism? The city authorities prepared the document “Krakow’s sustainable tourism policy for 2021-2028”, which is to answer this question and what will the tourism policy look like in the coming years.
Pandemic = collapse of tourism
Due to the pandemic, there was a collapse in tourist traffic in Krakow. Foreign tourism has practically died down, and the Krakow airport is recording drastic drops in the number of passengers. Pre-pandemic tourism and the idea for the future are described in over a hundred-page document on tourism policy for 2021-2028. It was prepared by the Tourism Department of the Krakow City Hall. The document is ready and the councilors will take care of it soon. If adopted, it will become the basis of the city’s official tourism policy.
What is the document all about?
“The program was ready before the pandemic, but it had to be verified and adapted to the current situation. We hope that after the pandemic is over, we will start rebuilding tourism in our city, so as to regain its important role in the socio-economic life, not to overgrow the tourist function in the future, while increasing the quality of services and the quality of life of the inhabitants” – emphasized Elżbieta Kantor in the autumn, director of the Faculty of Tourism.
Like many documents of this type, it is full of clerical phrases and specific language. What is striking is the fact that it was only the shock in the form of a pandemic that forced Krakow’s authorities to look at the problems that residents have been reporting for years, such as depopulation of the center, which has been appropriated by tourists, or loud, drunken night-time “tourism“.
Krakow tourist statistics were on the rise (pre-pandemic times)
Krakow has always boasted about growing tourist statistics. In 2019, the city was visited by approximately 14 million people, including over 3 million foreign guests. At that time, tourists left PLN 7.5 billion in the city (compared to PLN 6.48 billion in 2018). Tourism in Krakow was primarily about quantity, not quality. What officials pay attention to in their study.
“The structure and development trends in the tourism market until 2019 and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic indicate the need to change the approach to the development of tourism from quantitative to qualitative, without throwing inhabitants and space (especially cultural heritage) from a state of relative balance” – reads Krakow’s sustainable tourism for the years 2021-2028 ”.
The situation was analyzed before the pandemic. The authors point out that tourism is an important part of the city’s GDP, but not the dominant one. In 2016, tourism was responsible for 8% of the city’s entire GDP. It is estimated that tourism creates 29,000 jobs in Kraków permanent jobs, and at the peak it generates over 40 thousand. The share of the tourism economy in employment in the entire economy of Kraków exceeds 10%.
Mainly foreign tourists spend the night in Krakow
Mainly foreign tourists use the accommodation base in Krakow. In 2019, as much as 95.5% of them stayed in Krakow for at least one night. In the case of domestic tourists, it was 66.9%.
Rooms and apartments for rent offered as part of the global Booking or Airbnb portals, are very present in Krakow. The problem is that many of these short-term rental places are not officially reported anywhere. Which doesn’t mean they’re not reported. Nevertheless, it is difficult to determine their total number. However, in 2020, in the database of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in the records of facilities providing accommodation services, other than hotels and camping sites, in Krakow there were 1,646 facilities offering 32,181 beds, which is over 50% all accommodations in the city.
Short term rentals were also on the rise (pre-pandemic times)
A survey among residents from 2019 was also cited regarding their attitude to the increase in the number of short-term rental premises. Almost 80% agree with the opinion that short-term tourist rental allows residents to earn, and approx. 65% believes that it broadens the city’s accommodation offer. On the other hand, 50% agree that the development of such a lease is conflicting, and almost 60% state that it causes depopulation of districts and should be subject to interference by city authorities.
The growing role of business/congress tourism
The officials’ study also drew attention to the growing role of business and congress tourism. In 2019, the Krakow meetings industry took 48th place in the world and 29th in Europe. In 2019, 8,400 business meetings were held in Kraków, 78% of which were domestic. The largest share (over 2/3) was constituted by congresses and conferences, which were over 5.6 thousand. Corporate and incentive events were ranked second (over 2.6 thousand).
Krakow’s tourist offer, which enjoyed the greatest popularity until the pandemic, is the so-called city break (short weekend stay), congresses and conferences, religious tourism. The most competitive area of Krakow tourism is gastronomy, and the most attractive is medical tourism.
Types of tourists visiting Krakow
The program includes an interesting analysis of the “type” of tourists coming to Krakow, indicating which tourist is the most desirable. So far, three groups have been the most numerous: the purist of culture and art, the weekend conformist, and the banal hooligan. The last tourist is most often noticed by the resident – loud, often drunk, focused on cheap entertainment, not exploring the city.
Looking for Homo Consumens
From the city’s point of view, the most desirable tourist is the creative homo consumens. As we read in the study: He is not only a passive addressee of the offer created by the city but also acts as an active participant in the market and acts as its reviewer. Until now, however, this type of tourist was poorly present in Krakow.
The study focuses on the so-called night economy, where it was emphasized that the most desirable attractions should be sophisticated and advanced entertainment, which, based on the traditions of the city and its cultural potential, may generate significant income for municipal institutions. However, the dominant element of Krakow’s city nightlife is the so-called simple entertainment.
On this occasion, there is also a statement that “looking at the administrative decisions of the authorities as the only means of fighting the pathologies of nightlife is a naive approach”.
The study highlights the process of gentrification that affects the Old Town most acutely. It was emphasized that this process began there after 1989, but that it was not directly caused by tourism.
Recommendations for Krakow’s tourism policy
The plan for Krakow’s tourism for 2021-2028 contains a total of 9 recommendations for its implementation. Reconstruction of inbound tourism to the city is to take place, among others through:
increase in management efficiency,
integrated marketing communication,
support for the commercialization of the offer of local entrepreneurs,
mitigating conflicts of interest and values.
As we read in the study, “the challenge for Krakow in the process of rebuilding tourism is the management of the place, taking into account the commercialization of the offer, integrated marketing communication, mitigating conflicts between residents and visitors (or between various groups of competing service providers), regulation of access to selected zones considered to be tourism, and tools for acquiring financial resources, organizational structures, as well as skillful involvement of residents in the provision of services for visitors ”.
Restoring the tourism will take several years!
The tourism plan for 2021-2028 explicitly states that the collapse of tourist traffic due to Covid-19 is a huge risk for entrepreneurs in the form of a lack of revenues, costs, and debts. The study states that the process of restoring tourism will take several years.
Among the many recommended activities are:
Initiating and creating innovative package services based on the cultural and sports offer and events, taking into account all attractions and values of Krakow and Małopolska as well as premium products, including in cooperation with the Małopolska Tourist Organization.
Support for the development of public and private investments with a potential for the reception of tourist traffic and the ability to diversify.
Partnership of the local government with the tourism sector in the implementation of promotional activities on emission markets.
Cooperation with global booking portals in the field of knowledge exchange, promotion and respect for the city’s identity as a historical center.
Management of special areas and cultural parks in the spirit of sustainable spaces and services.
Supporting solutions that improve the quality of guide services, including in special areas.
Development of legislative solutions for the protection of the urban landscape with the participation of the tourism sector.
Jointly building a competitive congress offer of the city, its promotion and lobbying with the use of the most effective marketing tools, e.g. a congress package, the Polish Congress Ambassadors program.
Concentration and commercialization of unique events (including exhibitions, festivals, etc.) with a prestigious national and international rank.
Creation of a platform for information and commercialization of the offer of cultural institutions and events.
Engaging creative industries and non-tourism services.
Increasing the integration of tasks of other municipal institutions (Krakow Film Commission, Krakow Festival Office) with the tourism economy.
The preparation of the document was preceded by diagnostic analyzes. Research was also carried out on the attitudes and expectations of residents, and during the pandemic, an interview with entrepreneurs regarding their economic condition and proposals for measures to rebuild tourism in Krakow.
“We are winning the Friend of Krakow Badge” – is a campaign organized by the Grodzkie PTTK Society in Krakow. Currently, the 49th season of this campaign is underway – this time, however, unusual, because due to the epidemic, it takes the form of free, open online meetings, broadcast live on YouTube.
Who wants to earn a “Friend of Krakow” badge?
The general principles of the campaign are such that the Friend of Krakow badge can be obtained by anyone who participates in a certain number of lectures and walks around Krakow. Depending on the number of such meetings, a person can count on a bronze, silver, gold, or peacock badge.
Currently, due to restrictions related to the epidemic, walks are suspended, and meetings are only held online. They started in November and are planned until March, and are run by licensed city guides of PTTK in Krakow and museum staff.
What can you learn during these walks/sessions?
So far, several dozen online meetings have been held as part of the PTTK campaign “We are winning the Friend of Krakow Badge”. Their participants had the opportunity to listen to stories, for example, about the literary Krakow, the secrets of Długa Street, the Rakowicki cemetery, the defense of Krakow in the past centuries, about famous Krakow families, monasteries and monasteries, about lost churches or about old and modern Krakow libraries, city villas and palaces, theaters and cabarets, the Planty Park in Krakow, and the history and monuments of Podgórze.
The sessions on February 6th and 7th
This weekend, PTTK meetings also promise to be very interesting, so it’s worth making a reservation to take part in them. On Saturday, February 6, lectures on “Secrets of Krupnicza Street” (9:30) and “Krakow Synagogues” (11:30) are scheduled. However, on Sunday, February 7 at At 9:30 am there will be a meeting “Non-obvious Krakow. On the trail of Krakow artists’, and at 11:30 – lecture by the Society of Krakow History and Monuments Lovers “Krakow at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries” – for people who receive the “Pawim Piór” badge (the Peacock Badge).
Practical Information for the meetings
To take part in the walks as part of the campaign, it is enough to report to the meeting point specified in the program. Participation in the walks is free.
In the case of topics described under the slogan ” seat reservation “, you should contact the Grodzki PTTK Society in advance to download the “seat reservation ” – with the given time of entry. Seats result from the limitation of the number and size of groups in some visited facilities. Seats are issued against payment – the price includes an admission ticket to the visited facility and the VAT due.
Closed borders, including Norway and Great Britain, restrictions on flights to most countries – all this had an impact on the January result of the Balice airport near Krakow. Throughout the month, only 54,353 passengers used Kraków Airport services, i.e. 91% less than in January 2020. At that time, despite the disturbing news about Covid-19 coming from China and the first steps to increase security taken by the authorities of the largest Polish regional airport, it was still on a rising wave. Everything collapsed in mid-March 2020, and to this day a significant part of the old movement has not been rebuilt. The main reason is the restrictions imposed by the governments of most countries in response to the second wave of the pandemic, much more severe than the first.
Adjusting to a new normality
In previous years, in January, Kraków Airport passengers were very eager to use air services when going for a winter break. This year everything has changed. Passengers are required to follow sanitary rules in the countries they travel to, and airports are adjusting the infrastructure to the new guidelines
Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport
He assures that the priority for the Krakow airport has always been and will always be the passenger, his comfort and safety.
“It is also very important to react quickly to changing travel rules to individual countries, which is why we introduced the possibility of performing antigen tests at such a rapid pace in front of the Kraków Airport terminal, when such tests began to be required on flights to the Netherlands, due to the decision of the authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands” – adds Radosław Włoszek.
Black trend: airports are in the grip of restrictions and bans
The January collapse is a continuation of the black trend that started after last year’s relatively successful (for a pandemic) summer vacation. Successive governments introduced numerous restrictions in October in response to a repeated attack of the coronavirus, a significant increase in morbidity and mortality, and then also due to new mutations (including in the UK). As a result, the airport in Krakow-Balice in December 2020 handled only 76,469 passengers, i.e. by as much as 89 percent. less than in pre-pandemic December 2019.
How did 2020 look for Krakow Airport?
Throughout 2020, Kraków Airport handled 2,592,972 passengers, i.e. over 5.8 million less than in the record-breaking 2019. By far the highest was traffic in January, February and until mid-March (i.e. before the first wave of the pandemic and the introduction of restrictions), and also in summer. The end of the year was clearly spoiled by the ban on flights from Great Britain introduced by the Polish government – about 3rd of all passengers fly to the Islands at the Krakow airport. However, the key airlines did not completely suspend connections in this direction: from Great Britain, planes arrive empty, return full of Lesser Poland, returning to their British homes, and/or work.
Moderate optimism: vaccinations will unlock airports in the second half of the year?
According to analyzes of the aviation market, in 2021 we can expect 4,250,645 passengers at Kraków Airport, i.e. almost two times less than in the record-breaking year 2019, but 2 million more than in the pandemic 2020.“Independent research by aviation organizations such as IATA whether the ACI confirm that passengers will want to travel by air after the pandemic has calmed down. Common international policy and regulations in the field of opening borders for air travel are to guarantee this forecast” – says Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport, hopefully.
Coronavirus does not stop Polish investments
The activities of the entire industry ensuring travel safety, including sanitation, are aimed at developing uniform standards that will allow the reconstruction of the air transport market and tourism after the pandemic period. A prerequisite, however, is the full or partial opening of the tourism industry, as well as the effective dissemination of the vaccine
Andrzej Adamczyk, Minister of Infrastructure, during the January meeting summarizing 2020
“Coronavirus does not stop Polish investments – this applies to roads, railways, and airports. Kraków Airport presents ambitious plans for the future. This is an opportunity for a further dynamic development of this airport, and with it of the entire region“, added the minister.
2021 will be a time of even greater challenges: rebuilding confidence in air travel and rebuilding the airport’s potential. The consistent implementation of the Investment Plan for the coming years will also help in this, said Radosław Włoszek, president of Kraków Airport.
Even higher safety standards at the Krakow airport
Kraków Airport has introduced another modern solution to increase travel safety during a pandemic. The containers used by passengers during security checks and also placed at check-in desks have been coated with TitanSolid, which destroys the human coronavirus and other viruses and bacteria. The Krakow airport is another entity in the transport industry that uses this sanitary method.
TitanSolid is a disinfecting coating that activates when exposed to natural or artificial light. It was developed by the Polish company Lumichem in cooperation with university scientists. The coating in a continuous system removes all microorganisms, thanks to which the surface covered with it becomes microbiologically clean. Its effectiveness is confirmed by certificates and research, including the latest – towards the removal of the human coronavirus.
Original article, in Polish language, can be found in Gazeta Krakowska.
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