AT MINISTRY ON DIRECTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM

A meeting devoted to the development of pilgrimage and religious tourism, as well as the involvement of higher education institutions in this process, was held at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism on February 5, 2026. The discussions focused on the potential of this segment of tourism, which plays an important role in promoting Poland internationally and constitutes a significant stimulus for regional development and local economies.

Deputy Minister Ireneusz Raś presented the participants with a project aimed at developing a new pilgrimage tourism offer targeted at foreign visitors. He emphasized that such an offer must meet the highest standards and be tailored to the expectations of international tourists interested in exploring Poland’s spiritual and cultural heritage, using modern communication channels and techniques. In this context, he highlighted the important role of higher education institutions in researching the phenomenon of pilgrimage and in developing modern tourism products.

Among the participants were, among others, the Rector of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Rev. Prof. Robert Tyrała, and the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Internationalisation at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, prof. Beata Piskorska. Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa was represented by the Acting Rector, prof. Bogusław Przywora, and the Head of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on the Phenomenon of Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism, dr Marek Makowski.

“It was a valuable meeting. It made us realise how much our University can offer and at the same time implement activities aimed at building a modern tourism offer. The implementation of certain solutions may, in many cases, translate into tangible effects in the form of economic stimulation and the creation of new jobs,” summarised prof. Bogusław Przywora.
 
photo: Ministry of Sport and Tourism archives