In a recent address to the Polish Parliament, Deputy Minister of Sport Ireneusz Raś introduced a new form of financial support for domestic tourism, which will involve issuing checks to promote leisure activities. Allocating a budget of 10 million PLN, the initiative targets four provinces in eastern Poland initially—Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubusz, and Podkarpackie—with plans to expand nationwide within two years. Such checks are intended to encourage Polish citizens to take vacations during low tourist seasons, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are spread more evenly throughout the year.

The proposed checks will be particularly aimed at families, seniors, and educational trips, addressing diverse tourism goals while enhancing local economies during traditionally slower months. Minister Raś emphasized that the program is designed to support various segments of society and to stimulate economic activity in regions that rely heavily on tourism. Discussions about the specifics of implementing these checks are set to take place in March with regional governors, who will also be involved in co-financing the initiative on a shared basis.

Additional measures were hinted at during the address, such as introducing a tourist tax and standardizing regulations around short-term rentals for tourists. These proposals signify an ongoing effort by the Polish government to not only boost domestic tourism but also to refine regulations impacting the tourism industry, ensuring a more sustainable and profitable approach to leisure activities across the country.