Białowieża. There are fewer tourists than last year, but the situation has improved compared to the beginning of July

– Although it is worse than at the same time last year, the situation in August improved compared to the beginning of July. And it was bad then. It was the beginning of the holidays and the streets were empty. I have the impression that the market is slowly starting to rebuild – says Sławomir Droń, owner of one of the restaurants in Białowieża.

At the beginning of July we wrote about alerts sent by the Government Security Centre to people staying near the border with Belarus. Particularly disturbing were the messages in English warning against unauthorized border crossings and informing that soldiers might use weapons.

Border Guardwhich asked RCB to send these text messages, explained that the intention was to discourage illegal border crossings, but industry representatives told us that they mainly discourage tourists.

– A migrant who has traveled so many kilometres to get here will not be scared, but a foreign tourist will be – commented Sławomir Droń at the time.

He also said that the government’s poor communication policy regarding the introduction of a buffer zone along the border had a huge impact on the decrease in the number of tourists.

– At first there was information that it was to cover only an area of ​​about 200 meters inland, but later it turned out that it was to cover entire towns. Ultimately, the government decided on the original solution, but the confusion was huge – he said.

Now, however, when – as he notes – politicians talk less about the buffer zone and scare less about migrants, the situation is slowly calming down.

– Fortunately, alerts are no longer being sent (as confirmed by the RCB and the Border Guard, this was discontinued at the beginning of July – editor's note) – he points out.

He adds that he has not yet received a response to the letter that he sent to the governor, together with several dozen other entrepreneurs from the tourism industry in the Białowieża Forest region (the letter included a request for assistance in the form of exemptions from local taxes or contributions). Social Insurance Institution).

– 1.1 million, which the Minister of Sport and Tourism spoke about in Białowieża at the beginning of July Slawomir Nitrasthis is ridiculous money (the government allocated it, among other things, to the promotion of the Podlaskie Voivodeship in the media – editor’s note) – emphasizes Droń.

Agnieszka Zaorska, who runs an agritourism farm in Białowieża, says that everyone is counting on tourist vouchers, which the Speaker of the Sejm spoke about in mid-July in Białowieża. Szymon Holownia (i.e. a voucher that anyone could use only in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, with particular emphasis on border municipalities – editor's note)

– The Marshal said that it would be a good idea as a form of support for the tourism industry. We also think so. Of course, it would not be possible to do it this season, but next season, I think it would be possible – emphasizes Zaorska.

Like Sławomir Droń, he notes that the situation is better than in July, but there are certainly fewer tourists than last year.

– They also come for a smaller number of days. While previously they would book places for a week or even two weeks, now they book for three or five days – he points out.

He adds that recently, tourists are increasingly less likely to ask when making a reservation whether it is safe in Białowieża.

– It is clear that the confusion with the buffer zone is already over. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be done to increase tourist traffic. First of all, it would be necessary to facilitate access to our town, for example by creating a bicycle path and launching a railway line from Hajnówka to Białowieża. These needs have been talked about for years, but it ends with words – emphasizes Zaorska.

The improvement in the number of tourists compared to the beginning of July is also confirmed by Oliwia Hurley, who also runs an agritourism business in Białowieża. “Although the situation is still worse than last year. Guests also usually book accommodation at the last minute and for a shorter period,” she says.

According to statistics from Marek Czarny, who owns one of the hotels in Białowieża, occupancy is down by over 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

– Unfortunately, although there are indeed more tourists on the streets of Białowieża than at the beginning of July, the situation has not improved here. Guests also rent rooms for shorter periods – sometimes even just for one night. Despite the rising prices of utilities, we try not to increase the fees for stays – he emphasizes.

Katarzyna Szuma, who sells handicrafts in Białowieża, hopes that the situation will improve thanks to a tourist voucher or other government actions.

– Recently, a couple from Kujawy visited me. They said that they had heard on TV or the radio that there were few tourists in Białowieża and decided to come. Maybe the promotion will bear fruit one day – he points out.

Michał Panfiluk, who sells souvenirs in Białowieża, also counts on this.

– Although we shouldn't count on fixing what happened in a few weeks. The confusion with the buffer zone occurred at a time when tourists were planning longer holidays. So they went somewhere else, and those who come to us are just going on a short trip of one or two days. A tourist voucher would be a good solution – he says.

He adds that – from his perspective – although last week was indeed such that tourists were visible, the beginning of this week is worse. – Maybe it is caused by tourists postponing their arrival for the long weekend – he wonders.

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Anna Gierasimiuk from Białowieża National Park gives us data on tourists who visited the most frequently visited attraction, the European Bison Show Reserve.

– Comparing the time from the beginning of January to the end of July last year with the same period this year, the number is nine percent lower. Yes, we can talk about a decrease, but it is not very large. We also note the fact that this year there are more foreign tourists than last year. This means that the confusion around the buffer zone has had a greater impact on tourists from Poland.

As for August, there is no data yet. – Nevertheless, I believe that the money that the government has allocated for the promotion of the Podlaskie Province is bringing the first effects. In the media, we notice a lot of information about tourist attractions in the Białowieża Forest and in our entire province. When we ask tourists what made them come, we often hear that it was the promotion of the region in the media – he says.

Małgorzata Latawiec, a PTTK guide, has to interrupt our conversation because she claims she has so much work that she doesn’t have time and has to show tourists around.

– At the beginning of the season there were fewer guests. Now the situation has improved – he says only.