Regional authorities and local entrepreneurs in Warmia and Mazury observe that the difficult geopolitical situation is increasingly impacting tourism. Although the first half of the year brought a rise in the number of domestic tourists and overnight stays, the region recorded a decline in foreign visitors. Tourism remains a key pillar of the regional economy, and EU funds are largely directed toward developing transport and tourism infrastructure. Municipalities hope that in the next EU financial perspective, despite changes in budget structure, they will not lose their influence over how funds are allocated.
“Geopolitics has changed the dynamics of tourism. First, significantly fewer tourists arrived this year. The weather also played a role. But the main factor behind the decline in foreign guests is the belief that Ruciane-Nida is part of the Augustów Isthmus, only 100–120 kilometers in a straight line from the border with Belarus or from Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast. We definitely have fewer visitors. Everyone knows there is a civil protection act, and we are preparing for it: making purchases, undertaking certain military-related activities, and hosting NATO forces stationed in Orzysz and Bemowo. So the sense of threat is visible,” says Piotr Feliński, mayor of the town and municipality of Ruciane-Nida, in an interview with Newseria.
There are still no full statistical reports covering the summer season, but early trends are visible in the preliminary estimates of Statistics Poland (GUS) for the first half of 2025. The number of tourists visiting Warmia and Mazury increased by 6.2% compared to the same period last year, yet this was the fourth-worst result nationwide. Only Lubuskie (1.8%), Świętokrzyskie (2.9%), and Podkarpackie (4.7%) performed worse. Overnight stays by domestic tourists increased by 2.4%.
“The weather didn’t scare away domestic tourists. They weren’t afraid to come to Masuria because they love the ‘white fleet.’ Ruciane-Nida also has an advantage over other parts of the Masurian trail: we offer great sailing areas for experienced sailors—fans of silent sailing—on Lake Nidzkie. You can sail 26 kilometers in complete peace and quiet, admiring nature,” adds Mayor Feliński.
However, Warmia and Mazury was the only region in Poland to record a drop in the number of foreign tourists—down 5.2%, with nights spent by foreign visitors falling by nearly 9% year-on-year. In the second half of the year, interest from foreign tourists may have been further dampened by the Zapad military exercises organized by Russia and Belarus in September, as well as the fact that debris from Russian drones—part of provocative actions—fell on eastern regions of Poland (one drone fragment was found in Oleśno in Elbląg County).
“The geopolitical situation negatively affects our tourism economy. Tourists stay away because they fear proximity to an armed conflict. We try, first, to convince them that our region is beautiful and far from Russia and the war, and second, we try to extend the season. We are implementing programs such as the Warmia-Mazury Tourism Voucher to encourage people to visit outside high season. Until December 15, they can receive co-financing for accommodation and discover how beautiful autumn here can be,” says Katarzyna Sobiech, Deputy Marshal of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.
Tourism is the main engine of regional development—especially important given the long-running depopulation trend. According to GUS data, since 2000 the region has lost more than 78,000 residents—a 5.5% decrease (compared with a 2% decline nationwide). This results from emigration as well as unfavorable birth and death rates. The number of births in 2024 was nearly half of that in 2000. The region is aging: over the last 24 years, the median age has increased by almost 11 years. The share of people of post-working age rose from 12.76% in 2000 to 23.8% in 2024.
“The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship is not heavily industrialized, so we focus on attracting investors. But to do that, we need developed infrastructure—and that requires investment in roads, railways, and transport. Our population is small and dispersed across a large area. This low density causes social and transport exclusion,” Sobiech explains.
“Demographics have dropped dramatically. Our municipality has 7,400 residents. But during the summer, around 160,000 undocumented tourists—those staying more than one night—pass through, based on climate fee data. Comparing the statistics is not encouraging,” says Mayor Feliński.
He adds that cohesion-policy funds have been crucial for investments supporting water tourism. In 2021–2027, Poland has access to more than PLN 340 billion in EU funds, including PLN 150 billion for local governments. Warmia and Mazury received PLN 7.7 billion from this pool. The region also benefits from the EU programme for Eastern Poland. These funds translate into real projects.
“We have improved navigability on the waterways. In Guzianka we built a new lock and renovated the historic 1890 lock. These locks are gateways for sailors. If 17,000 yachts pass through, with four people on each, they will stop in our municipality—eat lunch, have coffee, and spend money with local businesses. That means taxes and jobs. In the previous EU perspective, we built a cycling loop used by 17,000 cyclists, who also spend money locally. Now we are modernizing the Masurian Cycling Loop, upgrading roads, and renovating the remaining canals. Ahead of us is the renovation of the Nidzkie Canal and, under the new perspective, construction of a port in Ruciane with 134 berths and full tourist facilities. These investments raise quality of life and attract more tourists,” says the mayor.
The next EU budget for 2028–2034 is projected at around EUR 2 trillion. At least EUR 218 billion is expected for less-developed regions. The management of cohesion policy is planned to shift toward a more centralized model. There are concerns that regions and municipalities will have less influence over decisions.
“I fear that centralizing the Cohesion Fund may reduce our ability to drive regional development. Today we no longer compete as municipalities—we work for the region. The Great Masurian Lakes Trail involves 17 municipalities. Together with the Marshal’s Office, we developed a regional strategy aligned with the broader voivodeship strategy. In our SWOT analysis, we identified the strongest assets we want to include in EU projects as strategic priorities,” says Feliński.
The new EU perspective was one of the topics discussed during the visit of the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development to Eastern Poland. Members of the European Parliament from various countries visited Podlaskie, Warmian-Masurian, and Lublin Voivodeships to see firsthand the challenges faced by borderland communities in the shadow of the war in Ukraine.
In early September, the European Parliament approved a reform of cohesion policy, allowing funds to be redirected to new objectives, including the defense industry and military mobility. Dual-use investments—those with both civilian and military applications—are to be prioritized. For eastern regions such as Warmia and Mazury, such investments may be particularly important due to geopolitical conditions and security needs.
“The dual-use programme is a huge opportunity for our region. We constantly seek funds for transport development—roads, railways, and communication—and we see this as a major chance,” says Sobiech. “Of course, it also involves social concerns. At the Olsztyn-Mazury Airport in Szymany, military aircraft land more often. On the one hand, we are glad because the money spent by the army stays here. On the other hand, residents living near the airport may feel uneasy. Still, overall, we believe this is a net positive for the region.”
