Poland Fails To Feel Economic Impact Of Euro 2012

Euro 2012 was "not the expected big boost" for Poland's economy, according to Eva Krafczyk of HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT. With one match left on Polish soil, Euro 2012 had a "pretty mediocre" economic impact. Many hotels "tried to make big bucks with dramatically increased room prices." The same is true for restaurants. Those tactics "failed on occasion." Tourism spokesperson Krzysztof Lopaczynski said, "Visitors from neighboring countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic arrived only for the game and left right after the game." The result is that "people didn't spend as much money as expected." Nevertheless, opinion research institute OBOP found that "88% of Polish people think tournament organizers did a good job." Even more important for the countries economic future might be that "80% of Euro 2012 visitors could imagine returning to Poland" (HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT, 6/27).

BEST LAID PLANS ...: In London, Jan Cienski reported Poland's "ambitious road-building programme" ahead of the Euro 2012 has "turned into one of Europe's largest construction sites." What was supposed to be a "boon for local companies" has turned into a disaster. PBG susidiary Hydro Budowa, which was "a main contractor" in the construction of stadiums in Warsaw, Gdansk and Poznan, has declared bankruptcy (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/27).