Table of contents
There’s no denying it – tourism in Poland is performing better and better. The sector is a major employer, offering job opportunities to people with management degrees as well as those who have completed catering or hospitality education. Could this be the right sector for you?
Improving results and growing sector needs
The figures are encouraging – Statistics Poland (GUS) reports that 21.4 million international tourists visited Poland last year (compared with 19.7 million in 2024). Meanwhile, Polish residents made 54.5 million domestic tourist trips (3.2% more than in the previous year).
Poland is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination, which is also driving demand for workers in the sector. In 2025, around 637,000 people worked in tourism, accounting for 4.2% of all people in employment in Poland (GUS data).
Are you thinking about pursuing education or developing your career in this sector? There are plenty of options to consider, from working in catering to managing a hotel chain. You can also choose from different educational pathways, such as vocational schools, higher education or vocational training courses. Is one job or pathway better than another? Not necessarily. What matters most is finding the one that best suits you and your preferences.
A closer look at qualifications
There are many ways to gain qualifications in this sector. Much depends on your current stage of education and the type of learning that would suit you best. Perhaps you want to build on the knowledge and competences you already have but don’t want to go to university? If so, take a look at market qualifications, for example.
Need some guidance to help you navigate all these options? Explore the suggestions we have selected from the Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR).
Stage II sectoral vocational school or technical secondary school
If you’re considering a stage II sectoral vocational school or technical secondary school and want to take your first step into the sector, take a look at these partial qualifications (PQF level 4):
as well as these full qualifications (PQF level IV):
Higher education
Interested in progressing to the next levels of formal education? Universities across Poland offer degree programmes related to tourism, hospitality and events management. Options range from Bachelor’s degree programmes to postgraduate studies. These programmes often combine several fields, such as marketing, management and tourism geography. In the IQR, you can find programmes such as:
- Tourism and Recreation at the Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences,
- Tourism and Heritage Management at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków,
- Tourism and Recreation at WSB Merito University in Toruń.
Market qualifications
Don’t want to, or can’t, pursue education at a vocational school or university? Market qualifications could be an alternative. See whether any of these qualifications might be right for you:
- ‘Providing Services in Health Tourism’
- ‘Tour Leading’
- ‘Looking After Tourists on Package Holidays – Holiday Representative’
Is it a challenging sector?
Of course, every job has its advantages and disadvantages. In tourism, too, you can expect different working conditions and challenges. Much depends on your specialisation. If you’re considering a job in hotel services, for example, you should be prepared for physical work and frequent contact with customers.
On the other hand, if you want to manage a large hotel complex, the stress and level of responsibility can be considerable, requiring strong mental resilience.
But don’t let that put you off! Your dream job might be closer than you think. Gather as much information as possible about the occupation and workplace you’re interested in, and consider your competences, knowledge and skills. You might find that taking the first step – and the next – isn’t as difficult as you expected.
Want to know more?
Explore qualifications in the Integrated Qualifications Register: link to the Register.
Watch a video about working in tourism: link to the Ministry of National Education’s YouTube video about hotel management technicians.
If you’re considering vocational education, use the Sectoral Vocational Education Compass: link to the tool.
And if you’d like to learn more about the tourism sector, listen to our podcast: link to the recording.
Worth noting
The qualification ‘Tour Leading’ has recently been classified as a sectoral qualification. What does this mean? The role of a tour leader is now described by professionals – specialists working in the sector, but also those who use tour leaders’ services, namely tourists. Having a validated qualification also provides prospective employers, including travel agencies, with more information – tour leaders have clearly defined requirements and responsibilities against which their performance can be assessed. You can read more about the Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks in tourism here: link to the publication.