Almost 15 million tourists in Krakow in 2024. This is how much money they left in the dragon's treasury

In 2024, Krakow was visited by over 14.7 million people, which is almost a million more than the year before - according to a study of tourist traffic prepared by the city in cooperation with the Małopolska Tourism Organization. According to estimates, all visitors to the city spent about PLN 9.05 billion.

The Krakow city council published data on tourist traffic in the city last year on Friday. According to the study's authors, 2024 was a period of clear tourism recovery for Krakow, with this process mainly involving domestic visitors. The city was visited by 14.72 million people during the year.

"It should be added that for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the statistics also include residents of that country. Until now, due to the geopolitical situation, they were not included in the general data," the publication noted.

Comparing the 2023 ranking, including Ukrainian citizens, there is a nearly million-strong increase in the total number of visitors. This number consists of tourists, i.e. people staying overnight in the city, as well as one-day visitors, i.e. without an overnight stay in Krakow.

As indicated in the study, the key factor behind the increase in the number of visitors was the increased interest in Kraków among Poles – their share in tourist traffic increased by 9.8%.

In 2024, the capital of Małopolska was visited mainly by visitors from the following voivodeships:

• Mazowieckie (17.7%),
• Silesia (17.1%),
• Podkarpackie (11.1%).

Nearly every seventh Pole (14.7%) visiting Kraków was a resident of the Małopolska Province.

For visitors from abroad, the situation was more complex. The overall decline in visits is largely due to changes in the number of arrivals from Ukraine, while at the same time the number of visitors from other countries increased.

After including Ukrainian citizens in the statistics, the number of foreign visitors dropped from 2.46 million in 2023 to 2.33 million in 2024. However, after excluding Ukrainians from this list, there is a clear increase in visitors to Krakow from other countries. Here, a jump from 900 thousand to 1.13 million people from abroad was recorded.

"It should therefore be emphasized that the dynamics in the statistics of visitors from abroad are complex and require a more careful analysis of the data," the authors of the study pointed out.

Among the guests visiting Kraków, the majority were tourists, i.e. people staying overnight in the city. 7.95 million people decided to spend at least one night in the capital of Małopolska, of which 6.42 million were domestic tourists, and 1.53 million were foreign tourists.

Among foreign guests, the largest group were residents of Great Britain, who made up 20.6% of all visitors from outside Poland. Next places were taken by guests from Germany (9.1%), Italy (7.6%), the United States (6.7%) and France (4.8%).

When it comes to the amount of spending during a stay in Krakow, tourists from Arab countries definitely dominate among foreign visitors. An Arab tourist spent an average of PLN 2,654 per person in Krakow. The other two countries from which visitors spent over PLN 1,500 per person were the USA (PLN 1,850) and Sweden (PLN 1,715).

The most frequently chosen length of stay in Kraków was 2–3 nights. This period was indicated by 37.7% of all visitors. Every fourth tourist spent one night in the city, while around 16% decided to stay in the city from four to seven nights.

In 2024, among domestic visitors to Krakow, there was a noticeable decrease in average spending during their stay: from PLN 669 to PLN 438 per person. In turn, the average spending of foreigners increased from PLN 1,115 to PLN 1,174 per person. It is estimated that in total, during their stay in Krakow, all visitors spent around PLN 9.05 billion.

The study showed that last year the number of hotel stays booked by all visitors decreased significantly. Almost 50 percent fewer people used this form of accommodation than the year before, and those who decided to stay in this way most often chose lower standard hotels last year: 2- and 3-star. For comparison, in 2023, 3- and 4-star hotels dominated among visitors' preferences.

The most frequently mentioned reasons for coming to Krakow were the need for rest and the desire to learn about its history and monuments – both among domestic and foreign visitors. In the case of visitors from other countries, visiting family and friends was also an important motive.

For years, the places that have enjoyed the greatest interest from visitors include: the Main Square, Wawel, the Old Town, Kazimierz, numerous Krakow museums and the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. The list of ten most popular places also includes Krakow's Vistula boulevards and the Christmas Market.

The authors of the study indicated that 2024 brought positive changes in the perception of Krakow. The average assessment of the quality of tourist services given by domestic visitors increased from 4.26 to 4.41, and in the case of foreign visitors from 4.19 to 4.38.

Visitors, both domestic and foreign, praise Krakow to a similar extent for the possibility of paying by card in many places, the atmosphere of the city, tourist attractions, easy access and hospitality. The city received the lowest marks for the condition and access to toilets, parking and facilities, both for people with disabilities and families with children. (PAP)

rgr/ mick/