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Meeting of Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology management with the representatives of tourist organizations

15.10.2020

Tourism is one of the most experienced branches of the Polish economy, but we provide it with plenty of support and the tourism industry can count on our further timely assistance - declared the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Technology Jarosław Gowin during today's meeting with representatives of tourist organizations. From now on, entrepreneurs from the tourism, stage and exhibition industry can benefit from elements of government aid provided for in the so-called tourist shield - exemptions from social security contributions and idle time benefits. Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin presented the concepts of further forms of support, including the exemption of the additional idle time benefits from income tax in 2020 and 2021.

Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin during a meeting with tourist organisations

The difficult situation of the Polish tourism industry in connection with the coronavirus pandemic was the main topic of the meeting held at the Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology headquarters. It was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Technology Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Technology Andrzej Gut-Mostowy and representatives of the industry, including among others: Polish Chamber of Tourism, Open Tourism Organisation, Chamber of Commerce of Polish Hotels, National Association of Tourist Agents, Association of Incentive Travel Organisers, Chamber of Tourism of the Republic of Poland and Polish Chamber of Youth Tourism.

In addition to culture, tourism is one of the two sectors most affected by the pandemic. Unfortunately, this difficult time still continues, and the industry is struggling to maintain

- said the Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin during the meeting.

We maintain the desire for constant contact with the tourism industry. We will hold another meeting on this issue within the upcoming 2-3 weeks. However, due to the worsening epidemic situation, the meeting will be held online

- announced Deputy Minister Andrzej Gut-Mostowy.

Solutions under the tourism shield

The tourist shield is another form of assistance for tourism affected by the pandemic.

The shield includes:

  • the establishment of the Tourist Refund Fund, which is to reimburse tourists for tourist events cancelled in connection with COVID-19 which has already been the subject of nearly 60 000 applications to use the Tourist Refund Fund,
  • the creation of a Tourist Assistance Fund to raise money for the reimbursement of tourist events that will not take place in the future due to unforeseen situations such as a pandemic or volcanic eruption,
  • establishment of an additional idle time benefit and suspension of social security contributions for the indicated activities in the area of tourism,
  • beginning on 15 October this year, entrepreneurs from the tourism, stage and exhibition industry will be able to apply to the Social Insurance Institution for exemption from contributions and idle time,
  • exemptions from the payment of social insurance contributions apply to July, August and September.
  • tourist entrepreneurs will also receive an idle time benefit in the amount of PLN 2080. It will be available for up to three times.
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