I listened to a television statement by Mr Lucas Chapierski, head of the airports authority in Poland, about the intensive investment phase that Polish airports are entering in the period ahead.
The aim is to increase their capacity and upgrade their infrastructure to keep pace with the continuous growth in air traffic. As Mr Lucas confirmed, more than 50 billion Polish zloty — equivalent to more than 1 billion dollars — will be allocated for this purpose.
It was certainly not the sum that caught my attention, as the man is speaking about an investment phase covering several airports in Poland. What struck me was his direct address to the Gulf tourist, whom he singled out when he said: you will find many changes in our airports, and specifically at the airport of the historic, tourist city of Kraków — you will find prayer rooms and spaces and areas for children to play.
This is a smart and sensitive response to one of the requirements that Gulf travellers consider important at any airport they fly from, fly to, or perhaps spend time in while waiting for their flight. Knowing a tourist's needs and then responding to them represents a great success and a mark of intelligence. It is also an acknowledgement of the standing and importance of the Gulf tourist, given the considerable financial weight they carry in the world's tourism economies.
Paying attention to the first details a tourist will encounter upon entering any country is both intelligence and success combined. Before a visitor learns the details of your home, their eyes will fall on the front door first. And before they discover the monuments, the people, the hotels and the restaurants, they will form their impression of the country from its airport — from the way its staff treat them and the procedures followed at every step until the moment they walk out into the street.
The way passport officers deal with arrivals, the speed of passport processing, baggage collection, security screening procedures — all of these can make you fall in love with a country from the moment you land, or can drive you to swear a solemn oath never to set foot there again. How many countries have we come to dislike because of corrupt employees, poor treatment, and outdated procedures!
Respecting the religious practices, customs and cultures of peoples is part of the intelligence behind sound tourism policies, and part of building lasting relationships with tourists. It is also a recognition of their weight in driving tourism, which is one of the most vital arteries of a global economy facing many challenges and stagnation — especially given the growing number of travel destinations and the abundance of choices available to the Gulf tourist, who possesses the financial means to select destinations offering the best deals, the smoothest service, and the least discrimination and rigidity.