Łukasz Pabiś announced his plans in a recording published on social media on Saturday. As he noted, the discussion about introducing a local fee in Częstochowa has been going on for many years. Now, due to changes in regulations, it is possible to establish it from January 1, 2027.
The commissioner emphasized that as the acting mayor of the city, he would have to make the decision alone.
However, he does not intend to do this without consultation. He wants to get to know the position of employers' organizations, entrepreneurs providing hotel and tourist services, as well as the residents themselves. He also encouraged people to send proposals regarding the amount of the fee.
From January 1, 2027, the maximum rate allowed by the regulations would be PLN 5.03 per person for each day of stay. According to Pabiś's estimates, if the city decided to impose such a fee, Częstochowa's budget could receive an additional approximately PLN 1.5 million annually.
The idea of introducing a local fee has long aroused emotions in Częstochowa. In the public debate it is referred to as the "pilgrimage fee" or "pilgrim tax". Supporters of this solution point out that the city incurs costs related to handling the mass pilgrimage movement, including cleaning streets and public spaces.
City hall data show that medical and sanitary protection of pilgrimage traffic alone costs approximately PLN 400,000. PLN per year. However, other expenses, such as cleaning streets and parks, are not separated in the budget in connection with the presence of pilgrims. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely determine their height.
Right-wing and Church-related circles have repeatedly protested against the introduction of the fee. They argued that such a solution may discourage people from visiting the city and negatively affect its image.
One of the first initiatives to introduce a fee appeared in 2010, after the election of Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk from the Left as the president of Częstochowa. Then, opponents of the idea issued an appeal in which they argued that collecting money from visitors would be an anti-promotion of the city and may discourage visits by both Poles and guests from abroad.
Similar arguments recurred in subsequent attempts to address the topic. Ultimately, the fee was never passed. The obstacle was the applicable regulations, which provided for the possibility of charging a spa fee in towns with the status of a health resort and a local fee, depending, among other things, on specific climatic and landscape conditions.
In 2019, the City Council accepted the appeal of Left councilor Sebastian Trzeszkowski for the Metropolitan Curia to transfer one zloty to the city for each pilgrim coming to Częstochowa. The Left councilors voted for the appeal, PiS representatives voted against, and the votes of the Civic Coalition councilors were divided. The Curia did not take this initiative.
The situation may change with the amendment to the regulations, which is to enter into force on January 1, 2027. Air cleanliness requirements will be abolished. In order for a commune to collect a local fee, landscape, natural or tourist values, such as the presence of monuments, are sufficient.
According to government estimates, the new regulations may enable over 1,600 municipalities out of 2,479 existing in Poland to collect such a fee.
The decision on the fee will be made by Łukasz Pabiś, who currently manages Częstochowa as a commissioner appointed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. His nomination was a consequence of the referendum of October 25, in which President Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk and the City Council were dismissed.
Pabiś, the current vice-president of Częstochowa associated with the Civic Coalition, performs the duties of both bodies until early elections are held. The draft regulation of the Prime Minister shows that they would be held on January 24, 2027.
By then, it will also be decided whether Częstochowa will join the cities that collect a local fee from people coming there for tourist and pilgrimage purposes.
