Certificates of the Polish Tourist Organization distributed. We know the winners

The Polish Tourist Organization has been organizing the Competition for the Best Tourist Product for over 20 years. Its aim is to select the most interesting, innovative and tourist-friendly tourist attractions, popularize them and support regional and local initiatives. Participation in the competition is a great opportunity for its participants to present themselves to a wider audience and obtain the prestigious Certificate of the Polish Tourist Organization.

In previous years, the winners included: Trail of the Eagles’ Nests, the Warsaw Uprising Museum or the Guido Mine and Queen Luiza Adit.

Currently, POT Certificates are awarded in four categories:

• POT certificate,

• POT Gold Certificate,

• Internet Users’ Certificate,

• Tourist Discovery of the Year.

Certificates of the Polish Tourist Organization distributed. The special role of the chapter

This year’s final gala of the competition took place on November 19. It started after 7 p.m. on the 42nd floor, in the “LookUp” event space, in one of Warsaw’s skyscrapers – Skyliner. Those present could admire a breathtaking view of the illuminated center of the capital. Despite the autumn weather and rain outside, there was a warm atmosphere in the room.

Marcin Prokop welcomed the participants. Among the numerous representatives of attractions and tourist spaces as well as organizations related to this sector and the state carrier (the president of LOT Polish Airlines Michał Fijoł was present), there were also politicians. The gala was attended by, among others, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism Ireneusz Raś, Minister for Senior Policy Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz and MP Krzysztof Truskolaski.

At the beginning, the president of the Polish Tourist Organization, Rafał Szmytke, spoke.

– The idea of ​​this competition was and is to exchange experiences and draw inspiration from each other. We are among the world leaders when it comes to creating tourism strategies, he noted.

Then Ireneusz Raś spoke to the guests. – This is a special day when we discover new gems of Polish tourism. I always say and will continue to say that it is infinite. There are plenty of places I haven’t been to and would like to visit, he said.

President Szmytke emphasized the special role of the chapter.

This year, the winners of awards and certificates were: Jacek Janowski (chairman), Dominik Borek, Dorota Lachowska, Grzegorz Chmielewski, Marek Ciechanowski, Agata Sołtan-Grzyb, Marcin Pałach, Michał Lipiński, Bartłomiej Walas, Jacek Borzyszkowski, Bogdan Włodarczyk, Sława Bieńczycka, Agnieszka Franus, Krzysztof Kobus, Anna Cichońska, Jolanta Grus and Wojciech Norkowski.

– They are the ones who have the most difficult job to do. A dozen people have to choose the best of them crème de la crème. This is a competition free from political and environmental pressure, said the president of POT.

Earlier, the chairman of the jury – Jacek Janowski – mentioned that in his opinion “this competition is really objective”.

POT distributed prizes. Full list of honorees and winners

Then, Jacek Janowski and president Rafał Szmytke presented POT awards and certificates. In the Tourist Discovery of the Year category, one winner was selected and one distinction was awarded.

The title of Tourist Discovery of the Year was awarded to the Maritime Science Center. Prof. Jerzy Stelmach, and the distinction in this category went to the Active Tourism and Sports Center BIESZCZAD.ski Wańkowa. Opened in 2023, MCN is a modern educational institution enabling discovering the secrets of science and technology. The main theme of the center is the sea – a topic that allows for an attractive presentation of issues in the field of, among others: physics, mathematics, astronomy, geography, medicine, technology, ecology, sociology, history and culture.

The Polish Tourist Organization Certificate for the Best Tourist Product in 2024 was awarded to:

1. Orientarium ZOO Łódź,

2. Hortulus Dobrzyca,

3. Siberia Memorial Museum,

4. Robot Factory – Museum of Scrap Sculpture,

5. Mandoria Amusement Park,

6. Lower Silesian Sports Center Polana Jakuszycka,

7. Silesian Center for Freedom and Solidarity,

8. Velo Baltica bicycle route,

9. UNESCO World Geopark Land of Extinct Volcanoes,

10. Porcelain Museum in Wałbrzych.

The distinction went to:

• Museum – Castle in Łańcut,

• Chmielaki Krasnostawskie.

The Internet users’ certificate, in turn, went to the Robot Factory – Museum of Scrap Sculpture, the only place in Poland, and even in Europe, where huge steel robots inspired by sci-fi films are built. Thanks to the owner’s passion, car scrap and other steel waste are transformed into metal sculptures up to several meters high.

The Gold Certificate was awarded last. The finalists in this category were: Książ Castle in Wałbrzych, the Bałtów Tourist Complex and the Copernicus Science Center.

This year, this title went to the Bałtów Tourist Complex, which has been enjoying growing popularity among tourists from all over Poland and beyond for 20 years. It covers an area of ​​approximately 100 ha and is the most diverse entertainment facility in Poland in terms of attractions.

The award – due to its nature – was presented not only by President Szmytke and Jacek Janowski, but also by Ireneusz Raś and Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz. It was picked up by the son of the complex’s owner, Filip Lichota.

– This certificate means a lot to us, especially when competing with such strong competition. Bałtów – when it comes to the purpose of visits to the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship – has been a leader for many years. These two decades have changed a lot. Next year we are opening a four-star hotel, we will exceed over a thousand beds. New investments and initiatives are being undertaken in Bałtów. Thanks to them, both me and my peers can stay here, work and develop, said Filip Lichota.

Certificates of the Polish Tourist Organization. After the gala, it was time for the show

After the official part, the gathered listened to a concert of the band Varius Manx & Kasia Stankiewicz, celebrating their 35th anniversary this year. Then there was a gala dinner.

What does the Polish Tourist Organization do?

The Polish Tourist Organization is a state legal entity established to strengthen the promotion of Poland in the field of tourism at home and abroad.

The Polish Tourist Organization is supervised by the minister responsible for tourism, currently the Minister of Sport and Tourism.