– Lower Silesia is facing a wave of cancelled reservations – says Małgorzata Szumska, owner of a guesthouse in Złoty Stok. During the season, 60 coaches with tourists arrive daily at the local Gold Mine. – There was one this week, and we still welcomed it with tears in our eyes – she says. And together with other people from the tourism industry, she appeals to plan visits to areas affected by flooding.
Złoty Stok is a picturesque mountain town on the border with Czechs. It lives primarily from tourism – here is located, among other things, the popular Gold Mine. This year's flood reached here, but it affected the town to a lesser extent than neighboring towns – Kłodzko or Lądek Zdrój.
But despite minor flood-related losses, the consequences of the floods affect local entrepreneurs.
“Attention, another wave will soon pass through Lower Silesia. It will be a wave of cancelled reservations and tourists not arriving,” says Małgorzata Szumska in a short recording.
She is the owner of the Złoty Jar guesthouse and the Stara Kruszarnia restaurant. Her entire family is involved in the tourism industry in the region. “Many places in Lower Silesia are safe, restaurants and hotels are waiting for their guests. If you want to help rebuild Lower Silesia after the flood – come to us,” Szumska appeals.
“I wanted to come, but it will be sad”
– People are canceling their reservations in panic – Szumska tells us. September is the end of the holiday season, there is always a lot of work. Now, popular tourist spots are empty – During the season, 60 coaches with tours come to us every day. This week there was one, and we still welcomed it with tears in our eyes – she emphasizes.
What to do if you already have a reservation and don't know what to expect? Szumska advises to simply call and ask the source: is the place safe, is it possible to get there.
Szumska understands that some people don't know how to behave. – A group was supposed to come to us in October. The lady called to cancel the stay, she said: “We want to have fun, and it will be so sad at your place”. I convinced her that it will only be sad when no one comes – she says.
This reservation was saved. But many others were not. – The flood did not kill our businesses, they will be killed by the cancellations. Most of us are now facing the dead season, and we have huge costs. Reservations, advances, arrivals even for a short time, all of this can help us now – explains Szumska. She adds that she employs 140 people.
And if the place currently cannot accept tourists, there are vouchers, for example. Similar ones – to be used “until the end of the world” – were exhibited in Złoty Stok during the pandemic, when it was not known when hotels and restaurants would open.
Gifts? There is a crop failure
Similar appeals are also coming from other places. “We know that this is not the best time to think about a vacation. However, remember that the regions affected by the flood will need your support and tourist traffic even more. If you can, do not cancel your reservation, postpone it to another date,” writes one of the portals offering accommodation for rent. “We asked Hosts of accommodation in the areas affected by the flood what they need now? The answer was: Guests,” we read.
Małgorzata Szumska confirms this. As she says, many people want to help. They just don't know how.
– There is a crop failure. People are coming with gifts, not knowing exactly what will be needed. One day it was bottled water, the next dry provisions, the third shovels to remove pollution – he says. That is why he appeals to support verified, verified collections. It is a safer way than buying things on your own.
“A tragedy has befallen the Kłodzko Land. But not all of it,” says Mateusz Jellin, mayor of Polanica Zdrój. “Polanica, Duszniki, Kudowa, Lewin and Szczytna are towns that were not affected by this catastrophic flood. We live here normally and are waiting for you, the tourists. Everything functions normally as it should. The roads are passable, the water is clean, restaurants and hotels are waiting for you,” he ends. He is echoed by local restaurateurs and hoteliers.
As Małgorzata Szumska explains, even flooded towns can be supported. – Kłodzko is half flooded, but some places are still working. Yesterday I went to a beautician, who was very happy that someone had made an appointment. The local shopping mall is open. In order to recover, people need to earn money – she says.
Elżbieta Szumska, Małgorzata's mother and owner of the Gold Mine, joins the conversation: – I remember what it was like in 1997. After the flood, there were rumours that there was an epidemic here and people were afraid to come for a long time. We can't let it end like this this time – she says.
– The internet works, you can check, call. Let's not trust rumors and let's not panic – adds Małgorzata.
“Despite the declared state of natural disaster, a significant part of the Kłodzko district was almost unaffected by the flood and it is possible to travel through it” – inform the owners of the Taszówka accommodation in Taszów.
– The Lower Silesian tourism industry, which has suffered due to the flood, needs enormous support. Our support – comments Magdalena Piasecka, vice-president of the Lower Silesian Tourism Organisation, which keeps an updated list of the availability of local tourist attractions.
– It is tourism that constitutes the economic foundation of the flooded areas. Lądek Zdrój, Stronie Śląskie, Bystrzyca and many others are the main attractions of this part of the region. Let's not cross these areas off our vacation plans – he emphasizes.
Main image source: Golden Jar/Private archive