Poland Tops Emerging Europes First Travel Competitiveness Index

The first comprehensive study of the tourism sector in Central and Eastern Europe shows that Poland is currently doing everything it can to make money as a potential tourist destination.

Known for its ideal old quarters like Wroclaw pictured above, combined with strong Polish accessibility brands and good tourism infrastructure, the city is a clear winner in the new Travel Competitiveness Index compiled by Emerging Europe.

Hungary came in second, followed by Romania. The top ten include Croatia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania and Montenegro.

The index examines the tourism sector in 23 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic and the Caucasus, categorizing them according to different dimensions and providing a valuable resource to anyone who is or is interested. an increasingly important part of the regional economy.

More than a beauty contest

“Our index is not just a beauty contest,” says Andrew Wrubel, co-founder of Emerging Europe.

“If we take into account the country's attractions, such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, national parks, museums - other important factors for tourism - we consider how the tourist offer of each country is sold in the market, how strong the attraction is. mark the earth. How easy they get. Which are well suited to the flow of tourists.

"We want to get an accurate picture of how each country can compete in a tough market."

As the Covid-19 epidemic has had a major impact on travel and tourism, the index shows how each of the 23 countries in the region has responded to the most resilient.

Albania is the clear winner here.

“During the pandemic, the flexibility of the Albanian tourism industry has been remarkable,” Vrubel said.

"Despite the fact that the number of tourists in other countries in the region is almost zero and causing serious damage to their economies, Albania supports an open door policy capable of sustaining damage, ensuring passenger safety." I believe many other countries can learn a lot him ".

In terms of tourism infrastructure, Albania’s neighbor Montenegro is a clear leader with more hotels and apartments per 100,000 inhabitants than anywhere else in the region.

However, there is room for improvement.

“Montenegro needs more airlines to operate at its airports and needs better transport links between the coastal towns of the south and the mountains of the northeast,” Vrubel added.

Ready to travel?

"Travel and tourism are bad times, but the crowds we saw at European airports this summer show that people are ready to travel again," said Craig Turpe, editor of Emerging Europe. The main author ". The travel notebook, together with the table of contents, will be published later this month.

“However, we must remember that the journey cannot be the same. I think we are seeing a change in the sea of ​​human travel. The number of people looking for a diving experience will grow dramatically: fewer people will try to take in the scenery.

“This is an exciting time for an industry that offers great potential to developing countries in the European region. In addition, our index shows that not everyone is ready to take advantage of this opportunity. ”

There is no room for tranquility here

Among the countries that need to increase their game is Azerbaijan, which ranks 23rd in the index and has a very bad score in terms of economic impact.

“Azerbaijan has a lot to offer. Of course, tourism is an area that can thrive as part of a wider economy, from oil to gas, ”added Turpe.

“But as we saw when Baku hosted the UEFA Europa League final in 2019, getting there is difficult and often expensive. That needs to change. "

Turpe also assessed that several countries in the region are satisfied with the tourism sector.

“If you have great beaches, rich history or many natural wonders in some places, you think that enough tourists will come and take care of the surroundings. Not so. Travel and tourism, like other industries, require investment. It needs to be advertised with the right people, with the right people, and tourists need to enjoy a positive impression.

Unlike many news platforms, Developing Europe will always be free to read. There is no pay wall here. We are independent, we are not affiliated, we do not represent any political party or corporate organization. We want the best for a developing Europe, nothing more and nothing less. Your support will help us continue to spread the word about this wonderful region.

You can make a contribution here. Thank you very much

Unfortunately, you have not received 15 suggestions for Shark Tank