The high water caused great damage to the tourism industry in southwestern Poland. Tourists are now either avoiding these areas or have canceled their planned visits – also in places where there was no flood. Entrepreneurs are counting their losses and appealing: come, we can't do it without you.
Virtually all tourist attractions and places in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship are waiting for tourists.
– We are open. We are waiting for you, dear tourists, in the Former Mine in Nowa Ruda – we hear. The problem is that the number of people willing to visit has dramatically decreased.
– It's sad to see when the facility is prepared and ready to welcome guests and no one is there – says Janusz Kowalski, a hotelier who runs “Amelkowa Chata” on Przełęcz Okraj. There were supposed to be several groups of tourists. The farmer, himself involved in helping flood victims, has even bought fuel.
– 10,000 liters of oil is PLN 44,400. The oil has arrived and I have no money to pay – says Janusz Kowalski.
There are many such stories in this area.
– Especially this week, immediately after the flood, the number of visitors dropped dramatically. (…) The scale of cancellation of previous orders reached almost 100 percent in the Kłodzko region or 75 percent in the Karkonosze Mountains – informs Jakub Feiga from the Lower Silesian Tourist Organization.
“In tourists' minds, the entire Lower Silesia was under water”
Entrepreneurs from places directly affected by the flood in Lower Silesia and the Opole region are in the most difficult situation, but its effects are also felt by the industry in places where there was no great water.
– In the minds of tourists, in the minds of Poles, the entire Lower Silesia was under water – comments Paweł Kunz, journalist, traveler, and tourism market expert.
– There was almost no flood in the Wałbrzych region. There were local floodings, but for example the Walim Adits had a large number of cancellations. Książ Castle, the pearl of Lower Silesia, also – says Jakub Feiga.
The difficult situation Lower Silesian tourism finds itself in is illustrated by the enormous drop in ticket sales to the Table Mountains National Park.
– Between, say, September 12 and 23, compared to the previous year, there is an almost 10-fold decrease in the number of visitors – says Tomasz Mazur from the management of the Table Mountains National Park.
Although you can wander along the trails without any obstacles. Access is also hassle-free. – We literally closed the tourist routes on Błędne Skały and Szczeliniec Wielki for one day, but this was because more water had accumulated and the footbridges used by tourists were simply standing in the water. We didn't want tourists to wade in the water, says Tomasz Mazur.
Any help is now worth its weight in gold. What will be useful to flood victims?Marta Balukiewicz/Fakty po Południu TVN24
It's a matter of returning to normality
Those who despite everything came to the Table Mountains National Park encourage others to do the same. What do they want to convey to those who are undecided? – This information that it is safe for people to come. Everyone must start living a normal life here – comments one of the tourists.
– It was about not giving up. We can help as much as we can. We have Wellington boots. If necessary, we can do something, says one of the tourists.
Especially where the flood caused the greatest devastation, entrepreneurs need tourists simply to survive.
– What was and is the greatest advantage of these regions has not disappeared, it is still there. You can hike in the mountains, ski, and ride bikes. All this is still waiting for you – emphasizes Piotr Pustelnik, vice-president of the Polish Mountaineering Association, a resident of Stronie Śląskie.
The whole of southwestern Poland invites you. – It is the money that we will leave now as tourists that will allow us to return to normality – says Paweł Kunz.
Main photo source: TVN24