Poland recorded the second-strongest tourism growth in the European Union last year, according to newly released Eurostat figures — placing it just behind holiday hotspot Malta and ahead of Latvia. The data arrives as the Polish government seeks to make tourism a more meaningful contributor to the national economy.
Eurostat estimates that overnight stays in commercial accommodation rose 7% year-on-year in Poland in 2025. Malta led the bloc with a 9.9% increase, while Latvia posted 6.2%. Lithuania and Luxembourg both grew 6.1%.
Europe’s traditional giants saw more modest gains: France grew by 3%, Italy by 2.1% and Spain by 1.6%. Ireland (-1.8%) and Romania (-1.4%) were the only EU countries to record declines.
The Eurostat data also highlights Poland’s continued reliance on domestic tourism. Only 19.2% of overnight stays were made by foreign visitors — among the lowest shares in the EU. Only Germany (18.9%) and Romania (17.6%) had smaller proportions. At the top end, Malta (94.1%), Cyprus (92.7%), Croatia (90.3%) and Luxembourg (88.1%) were overwhelmingly international markets. Spain (64.2%) and Italy (55.5%) attracted majority foreign guests, while France had a minority share at 31.9%.
Poland’s assets — from historic cities and cultural heritage to beaches, lakes, forests and mountain ranges — suggest considerable room for growth. Yet tourism contributes just 4% to national GDP, compared with the EU average of around 10%. The current government is aiming to raise the sector to 9% of GDP by 2030 under a strategy unveiled in September.
Signs of momentum are already visible. Last year, Kraków was named Europe’s best city break for the fifth time by UK consumer group Which?, while nearby attractions — including Auschwitz-Birkenau and the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine — logged record visitor numbers.
In absolute terms, however, Poland remains well behind the biggest destinations. Tourists spent an estimated 104.5 million nights in Polish accommodation last year, compared with Spain (513.1 million), Italy (476.0 million) and France (471.3 million). Greece (156.2 million), the Netherlands (148.0 million) and Austria (133.6 million) also registered higher totals.
