Gulf tourists say Polish mountain town a perfect holiday spot

Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras — Poland’s highest mountain range and a surprising new hotspot for Arab tourists.

- STANISLAW NAKLICKI

The 38-year-old is among thousands of Gulf residents spending their summer vacation in Zakopane, a resort known for its ski lifts and hiking trails, where historic wooden houses mix with modern hotels.

“We've completely taken over the place,” Mr Alayyash said while standing on Gubalowka, a peak overlooking Zakopane, where dozens of visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs and enjoy the view.

Zakopane, located in southern Poland, has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights from the region at nearby Krakow Airport.

The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, said Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce.

She said the official came to Zakopane to scout for a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and “was astonished” by the town.

Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves, helped by their visa-free access to the European Union.

Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66% higher than in 2023.

Manal Alanazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis.