Increase in the number of accommodation places in Zakopane by 60%. within a decade

The number of accommodation places in Zakopane increased from approx. 29 thousand. in 2016 to over 48.5 thousand in 2026, i.e. by 60%. – according to data from the City Hall.

In the city register of uncategorized objects - including, among others: private accommodation, apartments and cottages - over 3,300 beds have been added since the beginning of 2026 alone. At the end of September, there were already 48.5 thousand places in 4,333 facilities in the register.

Apartments are becoming more and more popular

The number of places in apartments is also growing every year. There are over 6,000 of them in Zakopane alone. A separate register is kept by the Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, covering hotels, guesthouses, motels, campsites and shelters. There are 61 facilities in this register, including 36 hotels, which offer a total of over 6,000 beds.

New regulations and electronic systems

The local government emphasizes that the increase in the number of registered places does not only mean the creation of new facilities. This is also the result of leaving the so-called gray zone.

Therefore, it cannot be assumed that the entire increase in the number of registered places means the creation of new accommodation places. This is the sum of the actual development of the accommodation base and the gradual disclosure and formalization of places that were not previously included in the register - explains Mateusz Pajek, spokesman for the Zakopane City Hall.

New solutions, such as the Travelhost electronic local fee collection system and the associated Tourist Card, also contribute to a higher number of registrations. These systems facilitate the settlement of fees and encourage owners to legalize their business.

The increase in the number of registered accommodation places is also influenced by planned changes in the law regarding short-term rentals. Work is underway to create the Central List of Tourist Accommodation Facilities and to introduce new obligations for owners and booking platforms. The prospect of new regulations encourages many accommodation providers to legalize their activities.

Record revenues from local tax

More registered accommodation places also mean higher revenues for the city coffers. From January to August 2026, the local fee collected from tourists amounted to PLN 4,161,000. PLN – by 217 thousand PLN more than in the same period of the previous year.