The Best in Travel 2016 award by Lonely Planet is regarded as particularly prestigious in the tourist industry. Every year, ten countries are recognized by Lonely Planet expert travelers, based not only on such criteria as national parks or cities but also planned cultural events, development and special tourist attractions. For numerous travelers around the world, the ranking is a compass showing the perfect holiday destinations.

 

It is the first time Poland has been included in the Best in Travel 2016 list. What is more, it is one of only two European countries (in addition to Latvia) in the ranking. This is how Anita Isalska, Lonely Planet copyrighter, describes our country on the publishing house’s website: Poland, which is ignoring recession, has superpower. While the rest of Europe is experiencing a slowdown, the number of visitors to Poland is constantly growing, especially as Wroclaw is getting prepared for the role of the 2016 European Capital of Culture. She believes that this is a great opportunity for less known Polish cities to be more widely recognized and the increasingly popular nature tourism to boom. The main attractions identified by Lonely Planet include Szczecin and the golf courses in the West Pomeranian Region (greater ease of access thanks to Wizz Air links), Krakow – as the venue of Catholic world youth days, Wieliczka, Lodz, Gdansk, Masuria and Bialowieza. Also, music festivals and the interesting heavy metal stage have been recognized as Polish tourist attractions that are growing in popularity.

 

A special award given by Lonely Planet to Poland was handed out during a gala held in Covent Garden, London, on 1 November. It will be accepted by Magdalena Krucz, Deputy Head of the Marketing Instruments Department at the Polish National Tourist Office, and Bogusław Becla, Director of the Polish National Tourist Office in London.

 

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