Germany and Ukraine Emerge as the Strongest Source Markets Fueling Poland Tourism With Record Visitor Numbers

Poland entered 2026 with one of the strongest tourism growth stories in Europe after a powerful 2025, led overwhelmingly by Germany, followed by Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. The country received an estimated 21.4 million international tourists overall in 2025, while strong growth across several important source markets indicates that 2026 could push international arrivals towards an estimated 22.8 million.

Germany remains Poland’s single most important international tourism source market. The country generated 1,959,404 tourists using Polish accommodation in 2025, an increase of 8.62% from 2024. Ukraine followed with 935,901, the United Kingdom with 805,724, and the United States with 623,619.

The bigger story, however, is diversification. Italy grew by more than 30%, Japan by 27.10%, Cyprus by 23.40%, Greece by 18.68%, the Czech Republic recorded strong double-digit growth and the UK increased by 16.37%. If Poland can retain even part of this momentum, 2026 could deliver not only another strong tourism year but also a considerably broader international visitor economy.

Poland Tourism Reached Record Levels in 2025

Poland’s tourism recovery moved decisively beyond its post-pandemic rebuilding phase during 2025. Preliminary official figures indicate that around 21.4 million foreign tourists visited Poland, compared with approximately 19.7 million in 2024, representing annual growth of about 8.5%.

Foreign visitor spending reached approximately PLN 41.5 billion, increasing by around 12.8%. This means expenditure expanded faster than international tourist volume, an encouraging sign for Poland’s wider visitor economy.

Across domestic and international tourism, tourist expenditure reached approximately PLN 94 billion, around 9.5% higher year on year and substantially above the level recorded in 2019.

An important distinction must be made when reading the source-market numbers below. The country-by-country figures supplied for this analysis relate mainly to foreign tourists using accommodation establishments, rather than every international visitor crossing into Poland. They therefore should not be added together or directly compared with the broader 21.4 million international-tourist estimate.

Biggest International Sources for Poland Tourism in 2025

The source-market data reveal a broad mix of neighbouring European countries, major Western European economies and increasingly important long-haul markets.

Germany Is Poland’s Tourism Powerhouse

Germany delivered almost 1.96 million tourists in the dataset, making it more than twice as large as any other individual source market.

Its 8.62% annual increase is particularly significant because maintaining strong percentage growth becomes more difficult as the underlying visitor base becomes larger.

Germany’s importance to Poland tourism is not surprising. The two countries share a border, while extensive road, rail and air connections make Poland easily accessible to German travellers. Poland also offers a broad tourism product ranging from Warsaw and Kraków city breaks to Baltic Sea holidays, heritage destinations, mountains, nature and cultural tourism.

Germany therefore represents more than simply Poland’s largest tourism source for one year. It provides a stable foundation for the country’s international visitor economy.

If German tourism grows by around 7% to 11% in 2026, Poland could receive approximately 2.10 million to 2.18 million German tourists using accommodation establishments.

Ukraine Holds Second Place but UK Is Closing the Gap

Ukraine generated 935,901 tourists in 2025, an increase of 5.45%.

That places Ukraine firmly in second position. However, the most interesting development is occurring directly behind it.

The United Kingdom generated 805,724 tourists, but British arrivals expanded by a much faster 16.37%.

The difference between Ukraine and the UK was therefore only about 130,000 tourists in 2025.

If Ukrainian demand grows moderately while British tourism continues expanding at close to double-digit rates, the gap could narrow considerably during 2026.

A reasonable scenario would place Ukraine at around 970,000 to 1.02 million tourists and the UK at approximately 900,000 to 940,000.

That would put Britain within striking distance of becoming Poland’s second-largest international source market.

United States Becomes a Major Long-Haul Tourism Market

The United States supplied 623,619 tourists in 2025, representing annual growth of 11.91%.

This is one of the most strategically important numbers in Poland’s tourism data.

Unlike neighbouring European markets, the US is a long-haul source. Continued growth from America can support hotels, restaurants, heritage attractions, guided tours and multi-city itineraries.

American visitors can also connect Poland with wider Central European tourism circuits involving cities such as Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin.

If the US market expands by roughly 9% to 14% during 2026, Poland could receive around 680,000 to 710,000 American tourists using accommodation.

Crossing the 700,000 level would further establish the United States as one of Poland’s core international tourism markets.

Italy Is Poland’s Breakout Tourism Market

Few major markets expanded as dramatically as Italy.

Poland welcomed 346,358 Italian tourists in 2025, representing extraordinary annual growth of 30.04%.

If that pace were repeated exactly, Italian tourist numbers would approach 450,000 in 2026. Such rapid annual growth should not automatically be expected to continue, but even a significant slowdown could leave Italy among Poland’s fastest-expanding large tourism markets.

An indicative range of 410,000 to 450,000 Italian tourists therefore illustrates the scale the market could reach under another strong year.

Czech Republic France and Spain Strengthen European Demand

The Czech Republic supplied 481,981 tourists, putting Poland close to receiving half a million visitors from its southern neighbour through the accommodation dataset.

France reached 234,000 tourists, rising 15.38%, while Spain generated 243,793, increasing 14.45%.

Lithuania was even larger at 287,114 tourists, with annual growth of 14.52%.

These numbers are significant because Poland is not relying exclusively on Germany, Ukraine or Britain. Demand is strengthening across northern, western, southern and central Europe.

Japan Cyprus and Greece Record Some of the Fastest Growth

Some smaller markets produced exceptional percentage gains.

Japan climbed 27.10% to 34,362 tourists. Cyprus increased 23.40% to 16,253. Greece jumped 18.68% to 51,395.

Austria increased 16.74% to 86,501, while Ireland rose 16.54% to 80,803.

Belgium grew 11.63% to 104,836, Sweden increased 11.52% to 176,575, Canada expanded 13.04% to 46,725, and Slovakia rose 13.65% to 176,533.

Only a small number of markets in the supplied dataset moved backwards. Belarus declined 8.65% to 110,555, while Russia fell 4.53% to 20,995.

What Could Poland Tourism Look Like in 2026?

Early indications point towards another potentially strong year.

Official 2026 tourism reporting has indicated continued growth in tourists using Polish accommodation, with foreign demand expanding strongly during the opening months.

Poland could consequently move towards approximately 22.8 million foreign tourists during 2026 under a continued-growth scenario.

Compared with approximately 21.4 million in 2025, this would mean roughly 1.4 million additional international tourists, equivalent to growth of around 6.5%.

The following figures are indicative projections rather than confirmed official forecasts. They illustrate possible outcomes based on 2025 volumes, recent market momentum and a continued-growth scenario.

These are scenario-based estimates. Actual 2026 results could move higher or lower depending on air capacity, hotel supply, economic conditions, exchange rates, geopolitical developments, consumer confidence and seasonal travel patterns.

Poland Could Cross a Major Tourism Milestone in 2026

The numbers show that Poland’s international tourism story is becoming much broader.

Germany remains the undisputed number-one source market, with almost two million tourists in 2025. Ukraine remains second, but the United Kingdom is expanding much faster. The United States has established itself as a major long-haul market, while Italy has emerged as one of the most powerful growth stories.

At the same time, France, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden, Slovakia, Austria, Ireland, Greece and Japan are all contributing to the diversification of Poland’s tourism economy.

The potential 22.8 million foreign-tourist level in 2026 would represent another important milestone. If achieved, it would be approximately three million higher than the estimated 19.7 million recorded in 2024.

For the Polish travel and tourism industry, however, the most important development may not simply be the total.

It is the changing composition of demand.

Germany provides scale. Ukraine provides a major neighbouring market. Britain is rapidly closing the gap. The United States gives Poland a powerful long-haul tourism base. Italy, France, Spain and the Czech Republic provide accelerating European demand, while markets such as Japan offer longer-term growth opportunities.

Poland therefore enters 2026 with both volume and momentum. If current trends remain broadly intact, Germany could cross two million tourists, Britain could move towards one million, the US could approach 700,000 and Poland itself could move towards a new international tourism record.

In conclusion, Germany and Ukraine emerge as the strongest source markets fueling Poland tourism with record visitor numbers as their powerful visitor volumes continue supporting the country’s international tourism expansion. Germany remains Poland’s leading tourism partner with nearly two million visitors, while Ukraine provides the second-largest source of international demand. Alongside rising contributions from the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, France and other growing markets, Poland is building a more diversified tourism economy. This broad-based growth strengthens Poland’s position as a major European destination and creates strong potential for continued visitor increases throughout 2026.