Latest news with #FahadAlayyash
Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Why Gulf tourists are racing to this Polish mountain town
Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range — and a surprising new hotspot for Arab tourists. The 38-year-old is among thousands of Gulf residents spending their summer vacation in Zakopane, a resort known for its ski lifts and hiking trails, where historic wooden houses mix with modern hotels. 'We've completely taken over the place,' Alayyash said while standing on Gubalowka, a peak overlooking Zakopane, where dozens of visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the view. Zakopane, located in southern Poland, has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and up to seven daily flights from the region land at the nearby Krakow Airport. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, said Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She said the official came to Zakopane to scout for a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and 'was astonished' by the town. Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves — helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Alanazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. 'When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'' she said. Social media effect Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created 'a snowball effect' of growing interest, said Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Alanazy and Abdullah Alotaibi, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti ship captain, learnt about Zakopane from X, formerly Twitter. 'I saw on Twitter (X) a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came,' said Alotaibi. Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. 'It was dark and I was walking... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'' said Alanazy. A palatable menu For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. 'This year, around two-thirds are Arabs,' Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, said of her customers. 'We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather,' she added. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a 'halal' certificate displayed over the counter. 'We also make sure that we have a halal menu,' said Wiktor Wrobel, CEO of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz said 'local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East'. He said the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. 'Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations,' Filipowicz said. 'Weather is perfect' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the infernal summer heat in their home region. Temperatures sometimes top 50C in the Gulf, whereas Polish summers are generally mild. Alanazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. 'I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries,' she said, adding that 'the weather is perfect' in Zakopane. Wrobel said climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. 'The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly,' he explained. Hanka Krzeptowska-Marusarz, whose family runs a guesthouse in Zakopane, recalled seeing a Kuwaiti in full Islamic attire as she stood in a meadow, arms spread out, soaked in torrential rain. 'I thought it was beautiful,' she said.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Gulf tourists say Polish mountain town is a cool place
Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range -- and a surprising new hotspot for Arab tourists. The 38-year-old is among thousands of Gulf residents spending their summer vacation in Zakopane, a resort known for its ski lifts and hiking trails, where historic wooden houses mix with modern hotels. 'We've completely taken over the place,' Alayyash said while standing on Gubalowka, a peak overlooking Zakopane, where dozens of visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs and enjoy the view. Zakopane, located in southern Poland, has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights from the region at nearby Krakow Airport. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, said Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She said the official came to Zakopane to scout for a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and 'was astonished' by the town. Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves -- helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 percent higher than in 2023. Manal Alanazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. 'When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'' she told AFP. A tourist takes a picture of a dessert on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane Tourists sit inside a carriage on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. Tourists take a picture of a kebab on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. Anna Stoch - El Einen (left) and her Palestinian husband Rami El Einen pose at their kebab bar in Gubalowka a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Tourists sit on a balcony of a hotel on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. A tourist stands on Gubalowka a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Tourists stand on the hill Gubalowka, a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.--AFP photos Tourists take pictures of a cow on the hill Gubalowka, a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Social media effect Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created 'a snowball effect' of growing interest, said Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organization. Both Alanazy and Abdullah Alotaibi, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti ship captain, learnt about Zakopane from X. 'I saw on Twitter (X) a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came,' said Alotaibi. Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. 'It was dark and I was walking... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'' said Alanazy. 'Halal menu' For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. 'This year, around two-thirds are Arabs,' Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, said of her customers. 'We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather,' she added. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a 'halal' certificate displayed over the counter. 'We also make sure that we have a halal menu,' said Wiktor Wrobel, CEO of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Tourists walk on Gubalowka hill, a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Tourists take a picture on Gubalowka a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. A tourist stands on Gubalowka a hill from which there is a view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Tourists sit on a balcony of a hotel on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. A tourist pushes a stroller on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. A tourists pushes a stroller on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. Tourists talk to a carriage driver on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. A billboard advertising an Arab tour company organising trips to Poland is pictured at a street in Zakopane. Arab customers constitute up to 30 percent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz told AFP 'local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East'. He said the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. 'Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations,' Filipowicz said. 'Weather is perfect' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the infernal summer heat in their home region. Temperatures sometimes top 50C in the Gulf, whereas Polish summers are generally mild. Alanazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. 'I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries,' she told AFP, adding that 'the weather is perfect' in Zakopane. Wrobel said climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. 'The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly,' he told AFP. Hanka Krzeptowska-Marusarz, whose family runs a guesthouse in Zakopane, recalled seeing a Kuwaiti in full Islamic attire as she stood in a meadow, arms spread out, soaked in torrential rain. 'I thought it was beautiful,' she said. — AFP
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
No racism, safety, halal food... why Gulf tourists feel at home in 'cool' Polish mountain resort of Zakopane
Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range – and a surprising new hotspot for Arab tourists. The 38-year-old is among thousands of Gulf residents spending their summer vacation in Zakopane, a resort known for its ski lifts and hiking trails, where historic wooden houses mix with modern hotels. "We've completely taken over the place," Alayyash said while standing on Gubalowka, a peak overlooking Zakopane, where dozens of visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs and enjoy the view. Zakopane, located in southern Poland, has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights from the region at nearby Krakow Airport. Tourists take pictures of a cow on the hill Gubalowka. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, said Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She said the official came to Zakopane to scout for a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and "was astonished" by the town. Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves -- helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Alanazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. "When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'" she told AFP. Social media effect Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created "a snowball effect" of growing interest, said Wojtowicz. Tourists take a picture of a kebab on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Alanazy and Abdullah Alotaibi, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti ship captain, learnt about Zakopane from X. "I saw on Twitter (X) a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came," said Alotaibi. Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. "It was dark and I was walking... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'" said Alanazy. Anna Stoch - El Einen (left) and her Palestinian husband Rami El Einen pose at their kebab bar in Gubalowka. 'Halal menu' For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. "This year, around two-thirds are Arabs," Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, said of her customers. "We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather," she added. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a "halal" certificate displayed over the counter. "We also make sure that we have a halal menu," said Wiktor Wrobel, CEO of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Tourists walk on Gubalowka hill. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz told the media, "local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East". He said the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. "Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations," Filipowicz said. 'Weather is perfect' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the infernal summer heat in their home region. Temperatures sometimes top 50˚C in the Gulf, whereas Polish summers are generally mild. Alanazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. A tourist pushes a stroller on Krupowki, the main pedestrian zone of Zakopane. Photos: Agence France-Presse "I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries," she told AFP, adding that "the weather is perfect" in Zakopane. Wrobel said climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. "The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly," he told the media. Hanka Krzeptowska-Marusarz, whose family runs a guesthouse in Zakopane, recalled seeing a Kuwaiti in full Islamic attire as she stood in a meadow, arms spread out, soaked in torrential rain. "I thought it was beautiful," she said. Agence France-Presse
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Why this Polish town is a hit among Gulf tourists this summer
Move over Switzerland and Austria, there's a new alpine hotspot for holidaymakers from the Gulf escaping the summer heat. Nestled deep in southern Poland 's Tatra Mountains is the small resort town of Zakopane, where thousands of holidaymakers from the region have flocked for alpine views and hiking trails. "We've completely taken over the place," says Fahad Alayyash, 38, a photographer from Saudi Arabia, as he stands on Gubalowka, gazing over the panorama of the Tatras, Poland 's highest mountain range. Below him, visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs, take photos of cows and enjoy the view. Zakopane has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights to the regional capital Krakow, about a two-hour drive north. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, says Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She explains the official came to Zakopane to scout a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and "was astonished" by the town. Emiratis become Poland's fastest-growing tourist group Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves - helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year, they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Al Anazy, 45, an educational technology professor at King Saud University, says Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. "When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'" she says. Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created "a snowball effect" of growing interest, says Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Al Anazy and Abdullah Al Otaibi, a Kuwaiti ship captain, learnt about Zakopane from social media. "I saw on Twitter [X] a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came," says Al Otaibi. Halal menus and safety Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. "It was dark and I was walking ... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'" says Al Anazy. For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. "This year, around two-thirds are Arabs," Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, says of her customers. "We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather," she says. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a "halal" certificate displayed over the counter. "We also make sure that we have a halal menu," says Wiktor Wrobel, chief executive of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz says "local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East". He adds the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. "Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic ... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations," Filipowicz says. 'Weather is perfect in Zakopane' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the summer heat. Al Anazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. "I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries," she says, adding that "the weather is perfect" in Zakopane. Wrobel says climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. "The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly," he says.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
The hills are alive with the sound of Gulf tourists
Move over Switzerland and Austria, there's a new alpine hotspot for holidaymakers from the Gulf escaping the summer heat. Nestled deep in southern Poland's Tatra Mountains is the small resort town of Zakopane, where thousands of holidaymakers from the region have flocked for alpine views and hiking trails. "We've completely taken over the place," says Fahad Alayyash, a 38-year-old photographer from Saudi Arabia, standing on Gubalowka, as he gazed over the panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range. Below him visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs, take photos of cows and enjoy the view. Zakopane has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights to the regional capital Krakow, about a two-hour drive north. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, says Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She said the official came to Zakopane to scout a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and "was astonished" by the town. Emiratis become Poland's fastest-growing tourist group Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves - helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Al Anazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. "When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'" she says. Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created "a snowball effect" of growing interest, says Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Al Anazy and Abdullah Al Otaibi, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti ship captain, learned about Zakopane from social media. "I saw on Twitter (X) a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came," said Al Otaibi. Halal menus and safety Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. "It was dark and I was walking... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'" said Al Anazy. For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. "This year, around two-thirds are Arabs," Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, said of her customers. "We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather," she says. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a "halal" certificate displayed over the counter. "We also make sure that we have a halal menu," said Wiktor Wrobel, CEO of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz said "local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East". He said the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. "Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic ... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations," Filipowicz said. 'Weather is perfect in Zakopane' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the summer heat. Al Anazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. "I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries," she said, adding that "the weather is perfect" in Zakopane. Wrobel said climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. "The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly," he says.
