TOURISM NEEDS HELP, AND GDYNIA KNOWS IT In 2020, the economic reality has turned upside down. The obligatory lockdown affected many industries, but it is the tourism that suffers the most. In Gdynia, tourism is an important business, creating the city image. It is a vibrant tourist city by the Baltic Sea, the culinary capital of Pomerania region and, most of all, the city of the Open’er – one of the largest music festivals – but also Aerobaltic Show, IronMan 70.3 or Cudawianki, a huge festival starting summer season. Despite numerous limitations, several sport events took place in Gdynia this year, including: Enea IronMan 70.3 and World Athletics Half Marathon Championship Gdynia 2020. Unfortunately, Open’er Festival had to be cancelled, just like the huge sky spectacle Aerobaltic Show. ‘Each of the cancelled events would have attracted thousands of guests, enjoying the city’s hotel and catering offer, who never arrived. We are doing everything we can to help the sector. Our flagship hotels are members of the Gdynia Tourism Council. We undertake common initiatives and discuss what else can be done’, says Gdynia Deputy Mayor for economy Katarzyna Gruszecka-Spychała.
‘During the holiday season we were organizing Gdynia sightseeing walks, starting from eight different hotels. The hotels used this opportunity to present their offer, including bars, restaurants, clubs, and wellness centres, also available for people living in Gdynia. A strong attraction here were our local city guides with amazing knowledge about Gdynia’, she continues. She adds: ‘This year’s season showed how much our habits changed. The hotel industry saw a significant drop in visitors – Gdynia hotels were full on weekends, but the occupancy rate during the week was about 50 %. Tourists’ profile changed as well. Due to the lack of the organized tourism, the family tourism dominated, and I think that families will remain the leading target group for the tourist sector for some time. ‘An important change is a substantial decrease in tourists from abroad, also due to suspension of cruiser services. Business tourism, a driving force for many facilities during low season, practically stopped. Together with our partners from the Gdynia Tourism Council, we look for solutions. Gdynia promoted itself in Cracow, during the spring lockdown we paid for healthcare workers’ accommodation in Gdynia hotels, we took part in the ”#City will wait” promotion campaign. Our huge assets are open-air attractions: Kosciuszki Square, Southern Pier, beaches, Kepa Redlowska nature reserve, Seaside Boulevard, Kamienna Góra funicular. Gdynia is beautiful all year round!’
by Grażyna Pilarczyk| g.pilarczyk@gdynia.pl 41
