Arabs in Zakopane – amenities, popularity, offer for tourists

“There are more and more Arabs in Podhale!” – the headlines scream, but what do the statistics say?

Before I packed my winter shoes into my suitcase, I looked through available statistical data on tourists. According to traffic studies in Małopolska and analyzes regarding Podhale, tourists from Arab countries are still a clear minority throughout the year, although in the peak summer season their share reaches up to approximately 10%. At the same time, local hoteliers and tourist organizations emphasize that traffic in winter also increases noticeably, because – as the guests themselves emphasize – the Tatra Mountains look particularly attractive in the snow.

Arabs discover Zakopane

There has been talk about the Arab boom in Zakopane for several years. Local entrepreneurs have noticed an increase in this group of tourists since approximately 2016, with a break due to the pandemic. . All these “amenities” are increasingly tailored to their needs. How do I know about this? I heard from one of the local women I met while traveling in Saudi Arabia.

Krupówki under the microscope: How many Arabs really walk here?

When I reached the center, I immediately went to Krupówki – a natural barometer of changes in Zakopane.

In winter, wrapped up to their heads in down jackets and hats, everyone looks alike – tourists from the Middle East are difficult to distinguish from the rest. During the holidays, the contrast is more pronounced, the outfits stand out especially for women in traditional, figure-covering clothes.

While walking along Krupówki, I looked for traces of the Arabic language. Some hotels and guesthouses offer Arabic-language service or information materials for these guests. The owners praise it as a magnet for the Middle East. In my opinion, it’s more for show, just something to talk about, but the fact is, there is something to it, since Arabs love Zakopane.

How much does food, entertainment and accommodation cost?

It has long been known that Zakopane is not a cheap destination. Still

In establishments aimed at foreign tourists – including Arabs – the main dishes, such as grilled meats or international cuisine, cost significantly more than in small inns on the outskirts. The owners often explain this by the need to adapt the menu to Muslim requirements.

In addition, there are paid attractions, both summer and winter: organized sleigh rides, slopes with the option of renting equipment, and thermal baths in the Tatra Mountains, advertised as an essential element of the package. In hotels with swimming pools or spas, New Year’s Eve and winter offers ranged from PLN 495 per day per person to several thousand zlotys. I didn’t decide to spend New Year’s Eve in the Tatra Mountains, but – as my friends who were there assured – there were plenty of guests from the Middle East. As for many of them, even the highlanders themselves say that they rather “don’t save”. And speaking of local residents…

What do the Highlanders think about the new guests?

When talking to residents, you can easily sense a mixture of curiosity, hope and sometimes fear. Representatives of local tourist organizations emphasize that the growing influx of guests from the Middle East is an opportunity for the region, although we are still talking about a small percentage of the total traffic – Poles remain the dominant group.

Out of curiosity, I asked one of the waiters in a restaurant on Krupówki how he viewed new guests.

What are Arabs doing near the Tatra Mountains? Attractions both in summer and winter

From what I observed and what locals and entrepreneurs confirm, .

In winter, they like to take advantage of “safe and comfortable” attractions, such as cable cars, walks around the center, shopping and stays in thermal baths or spas. Owners of luxury hotels say that in summer in some facilities, guests from Arab countries can constitute up to 30 percent of the guests. all customers. Many of them choose apartments and houses with the possibility of self-cooking, which is confirmed by reports from local operators who indicate that this is a typical stay model for families from the Middle East.

I feel that the image of the “flood of Arabs”, sometimes repeated on social media, is greatly simplified. There is a clear increase in the number of guests from Arab countries, they are present on Krupówki, in better hotels and restaurants, and the city has actually adapted its offers to them. At the same time, looking at the statistics and what I have seen, Zakopane remains primarily a Polish, family resort, where a new group of tourists is an increasingly important, but still relatively small part of the summer or winter crowd.