With the start of the high season, City Helpers – municipal patrols are stepping out onto the streets of Krakow’s historic center for the fifth time. Their mission is not only to help maintain order and ensure safety in the city, but also to provide tourist information, promote local cultural events, and, when necessary, offer first aid.
The year 2024 brought a new record for Krakow – the city saw visits from as many as 14.72 million guests. The largest number of visitors came from the United Kingdom (20.6%), followed by Germany (9.1%), Italy (7.6%), and the USA (6.7%). Growing attention is being paid to Krakow from travelers from the Middle East. These guests, accustomed to high service standards, seeking authenticity and a cooler climate, present new challenges for the local tourism industry.
Although the intense tourist traffic positively impacts the city’s economy and employment opportunities, it also brings a number of challenges, such as the need to regulate short-term rentals, professionalize the guide profession, and address the needs of local residents.
One of the most prominent impacts of heavy tourist traffic is noise, particularly in the evening hours, which greatly affects the daily lives of residents in the Old Town and Kazimierz districts. Consequently, the Krakow City Office, together with its partners, is implementing initiatives designed to manage tourist flow more effectively and enhance the quality of life in the city center.
Starting in 2019, the Tourism Department launched the Respect Kraków information campaign. Its goal is to make tourists aware that although Kraków is an attractive travel destination, it is first and foremost the home of its residents – hosts who deserve respect and peace. The mission of the initiative is to present Kraków as a hospitable and open city, but at the same time one where certain rules and codes of conduct must be observed.
The campaign also aims to promote cooperation and mutual understanding of the needs among all participants in the tourism market: residents, tourists, and business owners.
As part of Respect Kraków, from June to September, an information and promotional campaign is conducted in Kraków, both online and in public spaces. The initiative is supported by animations and graphics displayed as advertisements on popular social media platforms. Thanks to algorithms, these reach specific audience groups identified by research as the city’s most frequent visitors: domestic tourists and British tourists.
This year’s online campaign encourages visiting the city and exploring its cultural and gastronomic offerings, while also highlighting basic rules such as respecting nighttime quiet hours, careful use of bicycles and scooters, and refraining from consuming alcohol in public places.
Distinctive animations under the Respect Kraków banner have been displayed since January in the baggage claim hall at Kraków Airport. At the beginning of June, they also appeared on city media carriers: Bus TV screens, KKM ticket machines, bus stop display cases, and digital citylight panels. In the next phase of the campaign, starting in July, informational posters will be placed on the seats of 40 trams, on the backs of 7 buses, as well as on digital citylights in the area of the PKP Kraków Główny railway station.
With the start of the summer holidays, City Helpers will once again hit the streets of Kraków — municipal assistants who, since 2021, have been supporting the city’s efforts toward responsible tourism. This project is carried out jointly with the Association of the Tourism Organization of the Capital Royal City of Kraków.
City Helpers act as ambassadors of the Respect Kraków program, providing visible and friendly support both to visitors and residents. Their main task is patrolling the streets of the Old Town and Kazimierz districts; however, due to growing needs, this year the patrols will also be present along the Boulevards. Helpers’ duties include educating, assisting, reminding people about applicable rules and regulations within cultural park areas, and providing information.
City Helpers are fluent in foreign languages, and if needed, they have access to electronic translators from Vasco Electronic, which enable communication in as many as 108 languages. This significantly facilitates cooperation with tourists from all over the world and allows for quicker and more effective assistance.
As in previous editions, City Helpers will be equipped with two cargo bikes provided by the Public Transport Authority, stocked with informational materials about Kraków’s offerings and cultural events for interested individuals. This year’s season will also feature longer working hours for Helpers: from Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, they will patrol from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and on Fridays and Saturdays, even until 2:00 AM.
During this time, the number of patrols on the streets will increase: from Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, there will be three patrols consisting of up to three people, while on Fridays and Saturdays, their number will rise to four. City Helpers will move around on electric scooters, which will greatly facilitate their mobility and allow for more efficient work across the city.
Training, including self-defense for the Helpers, was prepared by the Police and the City Guard. These trainings are designed to equip the helpers with the skills necessary to handle difficult situations that may arise during patrols and to work effectively in the field. While monitoring the streets, City Helpers will remain in constant contact with the City Guard and, if necessary, take joint action.
City Helpers have undergone specialized first aid training, conducted thanks to cooperation with the Save a Life Foundation, which is providing defibrillators for this year’s edition of the project.
The Night Mayor will collaborate with the City Helpers, using insights from the weekly reports prepared by the Helpers in cooperation with the Night Economy Commission. Observations, monthly summaries, and the Helpers’ remarks will be used as valuable data for research on the night economy.
Additionally, Helpers will promote behaviors supporting sustainable tourism, including distributing eco-friendly water bottles provided by the Municipal Waterworks. The helpers’ role also includes promoting attractions and events outside the immediate city center to help disperse tourist traffic.
Kraków faces the challenge of a growing number of tourists, but thanks to initiatives like Respect Kraków and City Helpers, changes toward creating a city for everyone are possible. Although City Helpers form a small group, anyone can become an ambassador of the Respect Kraków project. Those interested in joining the initiative are invited to contact the Tourism Department at wt.umk@um.krakow.pl. All interested parties will receive access to graphic materials and prepared animations promoting the project, which are also available online. The joint engagement of residents, entrepreneurs, and tourists is key to building a culture of respect and cooperation, allowing the capital of Małopolska to be an open place for everyone.
