So… I wanted to share a story from today with you…
A Romanian-Polish (double-citizenship) lady enters a local shop (to help the local economy and the small enterprises VS going to big chains like Kaufland, Auchan, Carrefour, or others). She sits in a queue nicely, with her selected products: green onion tails (PL: “szczypiorek”) and some radish (PL: “rzodkiewka”). There are 2 ladies in front. One goes out fast but the 2nd one has many things to buy and she seems an older client as the ladies are familiar with each other. The lady that sells the products asks he where she has been in the last month or so as she did not see her for a very long while. To which the buyer replies that she has been off because her child could not walk a week after she went to give him the COVID shots.
COVID Shots for Polish children between the ages of 5 and 11
COVID 19 Deaths by Age Group (for the USA) between January 1st, 2020 and October 16th, 2021 show that 1.7% of all deaths among US children aged 5 to 11 was due to COVID.
Also, the leading causes of death (same age group) place COVID 19 deaths below the number of deaths from influenza and pneumonia.
It is true that outbreak investigations have demonstrated efficient transmission among children and adults, however, having the shots taken does not mean you won’t get COVID 19! It may mean you will get a milder version and the risk of transmission to others is lower (again, this does not mean you are not a carrier!).
Back to the story…
Now coming back to the story.. the lady said her son was stuck to the bed for over a week after taking his first COVID shots. Doctors said it was muscle inflammation and after checking him they also discovered that he had that reaction because he was COVID 19 infected. Now… it baffles me how come the doctor that checked before did not realize that or do a COVID test before the shot. It also baffles me how people choose to act for the benefit of their children yet end up doing harm.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-vaccine and I do not believe that children’s vaccines provoke diseases like autism. My child has taken the vaccines prescribed by the officials but never extra ones. And I will not start now. It is one thing to vaccinate myself, but another to “test” that on my child. I know, you will say these vaccines have been tested, but we really don’t know the long-term effects, don’t we? And we won’t know them for many more years to come. Should I feel comfortable in my daughter taking a vaccine that will not stop her from having the disease, will not stop the disease from spreading, yet it has one of the possible outcomes written down as DEATH?!
I don’t know about you, but I surely do not!
Influenza vaccines have been around for centuries and they are always changing. I know people that take them every year but they still get sick. There is always another variant, there are always changes and we try to catch up but we never can. For me, the COVID vaccine is like an Influenza vaccine… a vaccine that will not catch up.
I know this is a choice each takes, but I just felt the need to say this one out loud. If it is not helping you more than it is hurting you, what is the point?
In connection with the coronavirus pandemic, the Public Transport Authority in Krakow introduces a change regarding fees for parking cars in park & ride parking lots. From April 1, the parking fee can only be made by a payment card or by making a contactless payment using, for example, a phone or a watch with the NFC function.
The change is dictated by the developing pandemic, and the limitation of coin payments minimizes the possibility of getting infected through contact with the vending machine
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.
Restrictions for Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2020. Only 5 guests can come to the family for Christmas. The government decided so, issuing further restrictions on fighting the pandemic. We write what else is unusual for us as of Christmas 2020. It is because of the Coronavirus.
New restrictions until 27th of December 2020!
Coronavirus statistics remain volatile. As part of the fight against the pandemic, the government introduced further restrictions in November, which will be in force until December 27 , and thus also the day after Christmas 2020. In connection with these provisions, it will be unacceptable to feast together at an exceptionally large table this year .
All this in the light of the law – it is a regulation limiting the number of people who can stay in an apartment at the same time. This regulation states: “Until December 27, 2020, it is forbidden to organize (…) assemblies, including events, meetings, and gatherings of any type, except for meetings of up to 5 people, which take place in the premises or building indicated as the address of the place of residence or stay of the person who organizes the event or meeting “.
The rules
On Christmas 2020, apart from the household members, only 5 guests will be able to sit at the table.
Christmas Eve for the homeless, sick, lonely, and seniors this year are canceled by the pandemic. The organizers of these festive meetings, such as Caritas and the Polish Red Cross, can give out, for example, food packages for Christmas.
If “Gwiazdor” (aka the Star Man aka Santa Claus/Saint Nicholas) comes to children, he must also wear a protective mask under the chin and under the mask.
Christmas shopping: 1 customer in the shop, per 15 square meters!
Church: keep a distance at least of 1.5 meters between people & cover the mouth and nose. This goes also for the Midnight Mass! There will also be no traditional Christmas carols in the 2020/21 season. Parishioners will be able to go to a special mass instead of Christmas carols in their apartment!
No New Year’s Eve parties and concerts!
No New Year’s Eve 2020 spent in a restaurant, pub, or hotel!
The Ministry of Health has included Krakow in the YELLOW ZONE of the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus epidemic. We appeal to residents and tourists to be cautious and follow all sanitary rules!!!
On Thursday, 233 new cases of coronavirus infection were detected in the Małopolskie Voivodeship. 59 cases were found in Kraków alone.
According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, if there are between 6 and 12 new cases per 10,000 in a given area, it is included in the yellow zone. If there are more than 12 out of 10,000 new cases, then it is included in the red zone. The ministry introduces restrictions on the basis of an analysis of the dynamics of increases in infections over the last 14 days.
The ministry announces that it will update its infection rate and map twice a week.
The colors of the zones correspond to the additional rigors of the sanitary regime. The restrictions concern, among others fairs, congresses, sports and cultural events, gastronomy, sanatoriums, weddings, transport and the obligation to wear masks.
New YELLOW ZONE restrictions!
In the yellow zone at various types of events, there will be no more than 1 person per 4 m 2 , and not 2.5 m 2 , as it has been so far . Audiences, including cinema audiences, will only be filled to 25%, and cultural events may be attended by up to 100 people.
The principles of the operation of hotels, gastronomy, aquaparks, and swimming pools have not changed. In amusement parks, amusement parks, or recreational parks, 1 person should be used for 10 m 2. At gyms, clubs and fitness centers, there may be no more than one person per 7 m 2 of space available to customers, while maintaining a distance of 1.5 m (excluding service).
The number of participants at weddings and other meetings has been limited to 100 people. Public transport, commerce and, for example, hairdressing salons, may continue to function unchanged.
The obligation to cover the nose and mouth with clothing or parts thereof, a mask, a mask, a visor or a protective helmet is maintained, e.g. in public transport, in commercial or service facilities, in workplaces and in public utility buildings and in generally accessible places, unless a distance of 1.5 m is kept. The obligation to cover the nose and mouth also applies during religious worship, including religious activities or rituals, in public buildings intended for religious worship and in cemeteries.
One may be exempt from covering the nose and mouth due to pervasive developmental disorders, mental disorders, intellectual disability (moderate, severe or profound) and difficulties in covering or uncovering the mouth or nose on its own.
Red zone restrictions:
In the “red” regions, the rate of increase of new cases per 10 thousand. inhabitants exceed 12 in the 14 days preceding the publication date. Mass events are prohibited in the red zone. The number of wedding participants is limited to 50. Only half of the seats are available on public transport.
The operation of cinemas and other activities related to the projection of films or video recordings is allowed indoors, as well as in amphitheaters or concert shells, provided that every fourth seat in the audience is available to viewers or listeners, except that no more than 25 percent. number of seats. In the absence of designated seats in the audience, a distance of 1.5 m between spectators or listeners shall be kept. Spectators, listeners, visitors or participants are required to cover their mouth and nose.
It is forbidden to organize fairs and cultural events. Sanatoriums are closed, and sports events may take place without fans.
Gyms, clubs and fitness centers can not be more than one person per 10 m 2 space available for clients, while maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters (excluding service).
District I Council – Old Town passed a resolution with a request to introduce an electronic passenger counting system in public transport vehicles. Councilors argue that such a solution would be very helpful during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new Lajkonik trams already have an electronic passenger counting system. Hence the idea to use it in other public transport vehicles in Krakow. This would help in these times of pandemic, where there are restrictions on the number of people who can ride trams and buses. One could display how many seats are available in vehicles
Jacek Balcewicz, the councilor from the District I Council – Old Town, initiator of the resolution in which councilors from the first District requested the Public Transport Board (Zarządu Transportu Publicznego) to implement an electronic passenger counting system in public transport.
How could this help?
“Such a system in trams and buses would also help a lot in creating timetables. Based on the data, it could be determined what number of vehicles is needed on given routes to meet passengers’ expectations” – adds Councillor Balcewicz. In his opinion, it is better to spend money once to install an electronic passenger counting system than to commission such tests every time.
“It should be borne in mind that manual counting of passengers by employees may be affected by an error. It is not always easy to accurately count the number of people getting on and off eg a tram when there are many passengers. For this, you still need to employ people controlling whether people to count passengers do it in accordance with the contract. Later, such results go to analysis, everything lasts a long time, and having data from electronic counting you can react faster” – emphasizes Councillor Balcewicz.
How could it help in the case of a pandemic?
In the justification of the resolution, the councilors from District I emphasized that the lack of a passenger counting system was apparent during the restrictions imposed by the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. “It happened that the police intervened by ordering the number of passengers to leave the tram. In turn, passengers getting into the vehicle were not aware of exceeding the allowed limit, because no one informed them about it, and the individual counting of passengers inside during a short stop at the bus stop was practically impossible” – stressed councilors from District I.
How could it help the Municipal Transport Company – MPK?
“An efficient passenger counting system will also contribute to the rational management of rolling stock and substitution of vehicles with the capacity expected by passengers, and thus the rationalisation of the costs of public transport, which is a priority in the current budget situation.”
What do officials say?
At ZTP, we were told that they would “work out a position in this matter”.
In the Municipal Transport Company, which buys new trams and buses, they admit that some of these vehicles are already equipped with an electronic passenger counting system. Technically, this means that sensors are installed in the door that records how many people get in and out of the vehicle at a given stop.
“More than 120 buses are equipped with this type of system. As for trams, such a system is in new Lajkonik vehicles and one NGT6 tram” – informs Marek Gancarczyk, spokesman for MPK Kraków.
As for the new Lajkonik trams, 50 such vehicles are expected to reach Kraków – 35 this year and 15 in the first quarter of 2021. Six copies of Lajkonik have arrived so far (the seventh is on the way), and four are already driving on Krakow’s tracks.
What do YOU think of this measure? I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings on this topic. Please do reach out on my Facebook Page or just post a comment in the section below 🙂 Sharing is caring!
Yours always sincerly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug That Likes Public Transport in Krakow
Share:
Reading time: 3 min
Get more stuff
Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.
Recent Comments