They want to get a taste of the locality, not just sightseeing

According to a study by Leonardo Hotels, as many as three quarters of us bring back regional souvenirs from our city break, and over two thirds buy local food products, at the same time helping local producers earn money.

Classic city tours, which involve checking off the most important monuments, are starting to give way to the so-called experience tourism. This is a travel trend that focuses primarily on authentic experiences. Tourists want to explore cities from the perspective of their inhabitants and feel the atmosphere of the place. So they look for local shops, small restaurants or cafes that are not necessarily tourist-oriented. This is confirmed by hoteliers who emphasize that although this phenomenon has been observed around the world for some time, it is currently gaining momentum in Poland.

– We notice that guests are increasingly asking not only about the most popular monuments, but also about places where they can learn about the everyday life of residents. They are interested in local markets, craft workshops and shops with regional products. This trend is currently clearly intensifying in our country, although we have been observing it in Europe for a long time. Therefore, staff members of all our hotels act as local guides and hosts of the city. They share tips with guests about, for example, hidden corners or places popular with locals – says Iwona Furtek, Marketing Manager at Leonardo Hotels Polska.

Experts point out that this trend also favors the development of local businesses. Money from tourists’ wallets more often goes to regional producers and family businesses, strengthening the local economy. According to a study conducted by Leonardo Hotels Polska, only 2 percent travelers do not make any purchases during city break. What’s more, until… 65 percent respondents declare that spends from PLN 100 to PLN 500and almost every fifth spends over PLN 500 on shopping.

The end of the era of fridge magnets?

The approach to shopping and souvenirs brought back from holidays is also changing. Magnets or key rings are increasingly giving way to products made by local creators or regional delicacies. A study conducted by Leonardo Hotels Polska shows that as many as 74 percent Poles return from a city break with regional souvenirs, a 69 percent buys local food products. This is a clear signal confirming that we also look for authentic experiences when shopping, we want to support local producers, but also try local specialties.

The hotel as a starting point for discovering the city

The growing interest in locality also influences expectations towards accommodation facilities. Tourists are increasingly choosing hotels located in central districts, which allow easy access not only to the most important attractions, but also to less obvious places recommended by locals. Thanks to this, they serve not only as an accommodation facility, but also as a local guide, and even as a place of first contact with the culinary heritage of the region.

– Guests today expect recommendations that they will not find in classic guidebooks. That is why in our Krakow hotels we have introduced a free guided tour service, which also shows less obvious corners of the city – says Monika Maciąg, Multi Property Manager Leonardo Boutique Kraków.

– However, before tourists go into the city, they get a taste of the locality in the form of breakfast buffets with ingredients such as traditional and local delicacies. You can taste delicacies such as Małdrzyki Krakowskie, home-made lard with cracklings, highland korbacze or dry Old Polish Krakow sausage, registered as a Guaranteed Traditional Specialty – adds Monika Maciąg.

There is more and more evidence that city breaks are no longer just an opportunity to see the most important attractions. Travelers want to taste the locality and visit places recommended by locals. This is a change that the tourism industry should adapt to as quickly as possible and which will certainly benefit local entrepreneurs in the long run.