Wielkopolska is home to Poland's first historic capital, Gniezno, which, along with Poznań and Kalisz, boasts numerous historical monuments. The region is not short of natural charms either, with Wielkopolski National Park and 11 countryside parks showing off a sumptuous variety of flora and fauna. Yet the region does not seem to be capitalizing on its assets.

Falling figures

Last year, 4.6 million people visited Wielkopolskie voivodship, including 1.6 million foreign tourists, out of which more than half were Germans. However, the majority of foreigners come to Poznań on business, and the number of those vacationing in the region has recently been declining - the figure fell twice in the years 2000-2005.

Wielkopolska is not popular with Polish holidaymakers either. Of the three million Poles who visited it last year, only 560,000 went there on vacation. Now the region's authorities are hoping to reverse the trend.

New strategy

The region's tourism organization (Wielkopolska Organizacja Turystyczna) together with the Wielkopolska voivodship Marshal's Office are working on a strategy to develop tourism in the region, which should be adopted by the end of October. "First, we will work out the mission and vision, then we will set the goals," says Małgorzata Grzemska from the department of sport and tourism at the Marshal's Office. This will be the first strategy entirely focused on tourism in the region. Recently, a diagnosis of the current situation was discussed. Now the programs and tourist products need to be worked out.

"We attach particular weight to the development of active tourism, especially water tourism, like kayaking," says Grzemska. She adds that cultural routes to connect the main historical attractions of the region should be developed, while museums should be made more attractive and more effort should be made to draw tourists to the countryside.

Business and pleasure

Poznań itself remains largely focused on business travelers, but it also wants to promote cultural tourism. "We want to make the business traveler stay longer in the city and do some sightseeing," says Joanna Gonia from the city development department at Poznań City Hall.

The city has also had some innovative ideas about how to attract tourists. This year, between June 30 and July 2, the first shopping festival was organized. Gonia says it was a success, but the authorities still need to decide whether to continue it in the coming years.