BIO

Rafał Szmytke – President of the Polish Tourism Organisation

Rafał Szmytke is a manager with many years of experience, long associated with tourism. He has been working at the Polish Tourism Organisation since 2001-2016, and has held the position of its president since 2008. He is a graduate of the University School of Physical Education in Warsaw and the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Rotterdam School of Management.

He gained managerial experience in positions at the Office of Physical Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Health, and as a research worker at the University School of Physical Education in Warsaw. Most recently, he served as vice-rector at the Vistula School of Hospitality and Tourism in Warsaw. He was a manager for hotel projects at the Polish Property Holding, chaired the supervisory boards of the Polish Agency for Tourism Development and the Centre for Tourism Education, and also served as the Minister of State Treasury’s plenipotentiary at the Tourism Institute.

He has devoted himself to tourism not only professionally but also socially. He co-organized, among others, the National „Palmiry” Rally, and chaired the Sports Centre for Survival and Exploration. He also has numerous publications in the field of qualified and adventure tourism.

Rafał Szmytke is also a sports instructor: athletics, swimming, judo, survival, sports shooting, self-defense. He holds a yacht sailor’s certificate, a paraglider pilot license, and is a second-degree CMAS, PADI diver.