Over half a million soccer fans and 20 million tourists are expected to come to Poland in 2012, when the country will co-host the European soccer championships. They are expected to spend around one billion euros here. But, matches aside, will they find Poland attractive enough to visit again?

Will Poland manage to provide hotel accommodation in time? At least 180 new hotels will be required just for fans. These days, tourists want accommodation of a high standard. They choose good three-, four- or five-star hotels. They are attracted by facilities such as a sauna, gym, swimming pool and solarium. Even better if beautiful countryside, for example that of the eastern Podlasie region, is just a stone's throw away.

Nearly 1.5 billion euros has been earmarked for the development of tourism in Poland in the next five years from the structural funds of the European Union. The funds are distributed part of the Innovative Economy, Development of Eastern Poland and regional operating programs. Locations hoping to benefit include the eastern city of Białystok.

In Ukraine, rooms in hotels for Euro 2012 have already been booked, even in facilities still to be built. Poland, for the time being, is lagging behind. But regional tourist organizations are busy working out strategies for the coming years-they do not aim to lose out on such an opportunity.