„Tourism in Monuments” Seminar in Kraków

Published: 18.11.2024

The seminar titled „Tourism in Monuments” organized by Domus Polonorum in collaboration with Airbnb has concluded. The event took place on November 14, 2024, in Kraków, at the Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem. Around 70 participants attended, including representatives from government institutions and organizations involved in cultural heritage preservation, as well as members of Domus Polonorum.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Paweł Esse, President of Domus Polonorum. Ms. Ellen Madeker, Head of Public Policy for DACH and CEE at Airbnb, then took the floor to present the challenges and opportunities for the development of tourism in heritage sites. Mr. Radosław Gajda, an architect, architecture promoter, and author, delivered a fascinating talk on building narratives around monuments. His experience as the creator of the „Architecture is a Good Idea” program introduced participants to inspiring examples of architectural popularization.

The next part of the event was a discussion panel with experts representing various fields related to tourism and heritage preservation. The panelists included:

Ms. Katarzyna Hamela – Head of the Exhibitions Department at the Wawel Royal Castle.
Ms. Małgorzata Kacprzyk – Public Policy Manager at Airbnb for Central and Eastern Europe.
Dr. Robert Andrzejczyk – Director of the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek, former President of the Polish Tourism Organization.
Mr. Jerzy Heydel – Real estate market expert, founder of TWW Nieruchomości, a company specializing in short-term rentals.

The moderated discussion focused on ways to balance heritage protection with the expectations of modern tourists. Participants shared their experiences, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector cooperation. The audience also actively engaged in the conversation. After the seminar, participants visited the Princes Czartoryski Museum.

The organizers would like to sincerely thank all participants, speakers, and panelists. Special thanks go to the City of Kraków for partnering with the event and to the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek for its patronage. „Thanks to these partnerships, we have created a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the fields of tourism and heritage protection,” concluded Paweł Esse, President of Domus Polonorum.