ニュース

23.09.2020

Dear Partners

We would like to inform that 4th edition of IV Internatonal Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages www.IcoRTaP.com, www.BuyPoland.com, provided November 11-15, 2020 and post tour to Vilnius – Lithuania (November 15-18) will take place.

For the moment we have more than 200 application from participants, the epidemic situation is stable, so there is no reason to cancel the event. Only closed borders or direct prohibition on the part of Goverment can make the event cancelled. There is no predition that it can be real, so we suggest book in your calendar date 11-18 November and send me an email with reconfirmation your participations (we have reserved 100 rooms in hotel Plus Q**** for this event) or register here: www.icortap.com/en/register, www.buykrakow.com/en/#contactForm. With purchase of ticket flight we suggest wait untill the end of October.

Best regards, let’s hold on, we’ll be back to travel soon!

15.09.2020

Dear Friends and Partners!

According TripAdvisor Cracow is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Now is the best opportunity to visit and know our city - with no crowds, with full availablity of hotels and with the beautiful weather up to 25 degrees.

You don’t need collect a big group - we’ll arrage a trip for individuals and groups from 4 persons.

Hot news! We offer service GUIDE AND DRIVE - your guide can be also your driver. We have on our base certificated driver-guides who speak in your language. And as result we can offer you better price.

Please remember about our Congress-Fam Trip November 11, 2020 www.BuyKrakow.com

Greetings from Cracow

25.10.2019

Good morning/Good afternoon Dear Friends!

Next year we will be celebrating 100^th Anniversary of St. John Paul II’s birth.

Our agency - as specialist in both culture and pilgrimages tours - organizes a special programme: Following the footsetps of John Paul II.

I am sending you the programme which can be changed according to your dates, nr of people, nr of days. This programme is a draft.

As you might know we organize culture trips, pilgrimages, students trips, trekking, marathones, translations, transportation, hotels, restaurants and all the other tourism services in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovachia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Rusia and almost the whole Europe.

We also invite you to take advantes of our services during the III^rd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages (ICoRTaP) - Buy Krakow - Buy Poland congress and fam trip in November 6-10, 2019, www.ICoRTaP.com

100^th Anniversary of St. John Paul II’s birth - MAY 2020

POLAND, 8 DAYS

A pilgrimage that during 8 days will take you to many places related to the Saint John Paul II. The program includes the following places: Warsaw – the capital of Poland, Czestochowa – is the center for pilgrims from and outside of Poland, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Krakow – the diocese of Monsignor Karol Wojtyla, Kazimierz – the former Jewish district in Krakow, Wieliczka – the Salt Mine, Lagiewniki – the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy, Wadowice – the hometown of Pope John Paul II, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Zakopane and Tatra Mountains – the mountain-loving Pope’s paradise.

16.5 Sat	Arrival to Krakow
11.35	Arrival to Krakow by plane .... Meeting with the tour leader and the driver from Ernesto Travel and transfer by a private coach to the hotel in Krakow. Early check-in at the hotel (if possible). Hotel in Krakow ****.
13.00	Lunch in a restaurant or in the hotel.
14.30	Departure for Divine Mercy Shrine.
15.00	“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy’’. Visiting Monastery in Lagiewniki. There is a Sanctuary of Divine Mercy where Saint Faustina Kowalska lived and died. This Monastery was proclaimed ’The center of Divine Mercy’ by The Pope John Paul II during his stay in Poland in 2002. On The Sunday of Divine Mercy (a week after Easter) thousands people arrive here to participate in The Mass and pray in the antique church where Saint Faustina Kowalska (founder of the cult of Divine Mercy) was buried.
16.00	Holy Mass.
17.00	Visiting the new sanctuary of John Paul II in Biale Morza, close to Lagiewniki shrine.
18.00	Visiting the former Jewish district – Kazimierz. This part of Krakow was the centre of the Jewish community’s religious and social life until the deportations during the German occupation.
20.00	Dinner in a restaurant or in the hotel.
17.5 Sun	Krakow – Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – Wadowice – Krakow
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel.
8.30	Departure to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
10.00	Visiting the Bernardine Monastery complex in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the 3rd most famous sanctuary in Poland. The entire Mannerist complex (including the sanctuary and the park) is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO.
11.00	Transfer to Wadowice, where John Paul II was born in 1920.
12.00	Visiting the Pope’s home and the church where he was baptized.
13.00	A mass in the Pope’s parish.
14.00	Lunch at a restaurant.
15.30	Transfer back to Wadowice main square.
17.00	CONCERT.
20.00	Return to Krakow.
21.00	Dinner in a restaurant or in the hotel.
18.5 Mon	Krakow – the diocese of Monsignor Karol Wojtyla
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel.
9.00	Guided tour of Krakow. The Wawel Hill with the castle (from outside), its beautiful courtyard and the Cathedral (sightseeing inside). Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture of the Old Town (Stare Miasto), the biggest medieval market square in Europe (Rynek Glowny), the Town Hall, Collegium Maius – an ancient building belonging to the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), Saint Mary’s Church (Kosciol Mariacki – sightseeing inside) with the famous altar by Veit Stoss. A walk to the antique walls of the Old Town with Florianska Gate and the Barbican. The Archbishop’s Palace, where Karol Wojtyla lived as a cardinal and as Krakow’s archbishop. The Franciscan Church, where he prayed. His favourite pew is located there. Sightseeing Krakow’s Old Town and the Jagiellonian University, where Karol Wojtyla studied in 1938 - 1939 before World War II. Karol Wojtyla worked with students at Saint Florian’s Church school, situated at the Matejko Square. He travelled a lot with his students, who called him “their Uncle”. During sightseeing, there will be a multimedia presentation about the history of amber called “Polish Gold”. In 1978 Krakow was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
13.30	Lunch at a restaurant in Krakow’s Old Town.
15.00	Departure for Wieliczka.
16.00	Guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine – one of the oldest salt mines in the world. This Salt Mine is famous for its long tourist tradition. There are many important people who visited the place: Mikolaj Kopernik, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Dmitrij Mendeleev, Boleslaw Prus, Ignacy Paderewski, Karol Wojtyla, etc. In the year 1978 Wieliczka Salt Mine was inscribed on The World Heritage List of The UNESCO.
19.00	Dinner at a traditional Polish restaurant in Wieliczka combined with a folk music concert. The last night in Krakow.
19.5 Tue	Krakow – Dunajec – Debno Podhalanskie – Zakopane
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel in Krakow.
9.00	Departure by coach to Sromowce Wyzne.
11.00	Sailing on traditional wooden rafts down the Dunajec River, across the Pieninski National Park. Enjoying the beautiful view of the natural environment of the Pieniny Mountains.
13.30	Lunch at a restaurant in Szczawnica.
15.00	Transfer to Debno Podhalanskie. Sightseeing in the wooden Gothic church: one of the 6 wooden churches in southern Poland listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
17.00	A mass in Saint Michael the Archangel’s Church in Debno Podhalanskie.
18.00	Departure for the capital of the Polish Mountains – Zakopane – a town filled with beautiful and unique national-style wooden houses.
19.00	Arrival in Zakopane. Check-in at the hotel ****.
20.00	Dinner at the hotel or local restaurant. Overnight stay in Zakopane.
20.5 Wed	Zakopane and Tatra Mountains – the mountain-loving Pope’s paradise
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel.
9.00	Sightseeing in Zakopane: Jaszczurowka, Peksowy Brzyzek, Villa Atma, Krzeptowki – Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. The sanctuary was founded as a token of gratitude for saving the Pope’s life after the assassination attempt on 13th May, 1983. [There will be a mass in the sanctuary]. Visiting the Krupowki promenade with many souvenir shops. Free time.
13.00	Lunch at a traditional mountain restaurant.
15.00	Going up to top of the Gubalowka by cable railway. Enjoying an amazing view of the Tatra Mountains. Walking downhill through a passage. Return to Zakopane.
20.00	Dinner at an old-fashioned restaurant in Zakopane combined with a traditional mountain music concert.
22.00	Return to the hotel. The last night in Zakopane.
21.5 Thu	Zakopane – Oswiecim (Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau) – Czestochowa
7.30	Breakfast at the hotel.Check-out from the hotel.
8.00	Departure for the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum (in Oswiecim).
11.00	Guided tour of the area of the Former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) Auschwitz-Birkenau. The camp was established by Germans in 1940, in the suburbs of Oswiecim, a Polish city that was annexed to the Third Reich by the Nazis. Its name was changed to Auschwitz, which also became the name of Konzentrationslager Auschwitz. Today there is a museum on the territory of the camp, the place is a World Heritage Site of The UNESCO. The visit includes the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau camps.
14.00	Lunch at a restaurant in Oswiecim.
15.00	Departure for Czestochowa.
17.00	Guided tour of the most important pilgrimage place in Poland – the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa with the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary called the Black Madonna.
19.00	A mass in Sanctuary.
20.30	Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay in Czestochowa. Hotel Mercure ***+.
22.5 Fri	Czestochowa – Lichen – Warsaw
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel.
9.00	Departure for Lichen.
13.00	Lunch at a restaurant in Lichen.
14.00	Sightseeing of the shrine in Lichen.
15.00	Holy Mass or a celebration in Lichen and free time.
18.00	Departure to Warsaw.
20.00	Check in the hotel in Warsaw, hotel Sheraton *****.
21.00	Dinner in a restaurant.
23.5 Sat	Warsaw – the capital city of Poland
8.00	Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out.
9.00	Guided tour of Warsaw: Park Łazienkowski (Royal Baths Park) with the Frederic Chopin monument, the territory of the former Warsaw Ghetto, Umschlagplatz (thousands of the Jews were deported from there to the concentration camps), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Palace of Culture and Science, Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, the Old Town (listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO), St. John’s Cathedral. The Old Town was completely destroyed during World War II and reconstructed thanks to the commitment of the Polish nation.
13.00	Lunch.
15.00	Visiting Saint Stanislaw Kostka’s Church. It’s the burial site of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by communist militia officers in 1984. (There will be a mass to attend there). The theme of this part of the journey is: ’The Church during Communism’. Leisure.
19.00	Dinner.
20.00	Departure to the airport and check-in for the flight Lot ...

Group of min. 20 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 1000 eur
Group of min. 25 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 950 eur
Group of min. 30 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 900 eur
Group of min. 35 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 870 eur
Group of min. 40 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 845 eur
Group of min. 45 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 830 eur
Group of min. 50 payants	Price per 1 person in a double or a twin room: 820 eur
	Single room supplement: 280 eur.

1 free person in a double/twin room each 20 payants (e.g.: 20 payants + 1 free; 40 payants + 2 frees).

Services provided by Ernesto Travel:

Hotels as in the programme.
A tour leader for the whole tour.
Full board: all breakfasts, lunches and dinners according to the programme.
English speaking guides for all sightseeing visits according to the programme:
- 16^th: local English speaking guide for the visit of Lagiewniki and Kazimierz, no paid entrances;
- visits ot Lagiewniki, Biale Morza, Kalwaria and Zakopane with a tour-leader (free entrances);
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Wadowice (entrance tickets included);
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Krakow with entrances to: the Cathedral Church in Krakow, Saint Mary’s Church (Kosciol Mariacki);
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Wieliczka with entrances the Salt Mine;
- tickets for sailing on wooden rafts;
- tickets for cable railway in Zakopane to Gubalowka mountain;
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Auschwitz (free entrance; obligatory headphones included);
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Czestochowa (free entrance);
- local English speaking guide for the visit of Lichen (free entrance);
- local English speaking guide 4h for the visit of Warsaw (no entrance tickets are included).
High quality transport service in a new coach.

The price does not include:

Flight tickets.
Tips and pocket money.
Luggage service.
Health insurance and travel insurance.
Anything not specified in the above section “Services provided by Ernesto Travel”.

1.06.2019

エルネストトラベルと一緒にご旅行を! ポーランド!

しいウェブサイト: www.krakow-travel.pl

ページでぜひ「いいね」を押して下さい:
➡️ www.instagram.com/ernesto_travel_touroperator/
➡️ pinterest.com/ernestotravel/

3rd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages - Krakow 6-10 November 2019: www.icortap.com
➡️ www.facebook.com/ICoRTaP/
➡️ www.instagram.com/icortap_congress/

3rd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages - Krakow, 6-10.11.2019

Save the date!

The 3^rd edition of the International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages will take place between 6-10. November 2019 in Krakow, Poland.

Come to Krakow, get to know the city of John Paul II and Faustina Kowalska;
Visit Wadowice (JP2 birthplace), Divine Mercy Shrine, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Czestochowa the Black Madonna Sanctuary, Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oswiecim;
Meet other religious tourism professionals from all over the World;
Find local contacts for your future trips;
Learn about the religious heritage of Poland.

We are happy to announce that the 3^rd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages "100th birthday of Karol Wojtyla - Saint John Paul II"will take place in Krakow, from 6^th to 10^th November 2019.

Krakow and Malopolska Region have a great potential as a religious tourism and pilgrimage destination. Every year they are visited by millions of pilgrims and religious tourists, just let us mention the last World Youth Day which took place here in Krakow in 2016, but also the previous editions of our Congress in 2017 and in 2018, that have also been a great success.

You can check some photos here: www.icortap.com/en/gallery and www.facebook.com/ICoRTaP/ and on www.instagram.com/icortap_congress, and some comments here: www.icortap.com/en/opinions

The Congress will be opened on the 7^th November, by the both secular and clerical authorities of Krakow. An opening Holy Mass will be celebrated, followed by speeches, lectures and a workshop (expo) with the representatives of the local sanctuaries and tourist attractions. 8^th, 9^th and 10^thNovember will be a chance for the guests from around the world to visit Krakow and Malopolska Region (Krakow Old Town, John Paul II Center, Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Salt Mine in Wieliczka, former German Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the church and museum of Wadowice - Karol Wojtyla’s birthplace, the Basilic in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and of course the Black Madonna Sanctuary in Czestochowa).

The Congress aims to be a place of contacts exchange between its participants and the promotion of Krakow and Malopolska Region as an important religious tourism and pilgrimage destination not only in Europe, but also worldwide.

The organizers welcome foreign tour agents and touroperatos, bloggers and journalists, bishops and priests as well as other religious tourism and pilgrimage organizers such as diocesan coordinators or the leaders of foundations, communities and congregations, that want to be buyers of the services in Poland (buyers).

You can also be a seller if you want to promote your services to the guest-buyers: www.icortap.com/en/expo

Check the Congress program here: www.icortap.com/en/program

Check the workshop part: www.icortap.com/en/expo

See you in Krakow! Do zobaczenia w Krakowie!

2nd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages - Krakow, 8-11.11.2018

The II International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages started on the 8th November 2018 with a Holy Mass celebrated by the priests that participated in the congress for the whole group of circa 100 touroperators from 30 countries in the new built Sanctuary of St. John Paull II in Biale Morza - Krakow.

At 10 a.m. we started working (lectures, presentations). We had 250 persons in the audience: 100 participants from 30 countries and 150 guest from Krakow and Poland.

2nd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages - the afternoon of the 2nd day (8th November) was dedicated to an expo, a tourism fair, where the buyers (about 100 travel tour operators from more than 30 countries worldwide) could meet local, national and international offer (there were about 40 stands). Thousands of talks, opinions and experiences shared and expressed.

After the presentations, lectures and expo day we started our study tour (fam trip) in Krakow and surroundings. On the 9th November we went to visit the former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This visit is always very sad but absolutely necessary.

After having visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in the morning we went to Czestochowa in the afternoon. We visited the most important shrine in Poland - Holy Virgin Mary called by the Poles "Black Madonna".

On the 3rd day of our congress-fam trip we had 3 visits: the first one was to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the shrine of the Virgin Mary on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

After having visited Kalwaria Zebrzydowska we went to Wadowice to see the birthday place and the parish of Karol Wojtyla - Pope John Paul the II. Time is running, eternity is waiting...

Our 3rd day finished in Wieliczka Salt Mine: we visited this fantastic place (also on the UNESCO World Heritage List) and we had a gala dinner with a concert of Polish folk musice. We enjoyed it very much!

On the last day of our congress we have visited the most beautiful city of Poland - Krakow.
It was 11th of November - Polish National Independence Day, what is more, this year we could have seen, how Poles celebrated their 100th anniversary of Independance dating back to the 11th Nov 1918.

15.06.2018

2nd INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM AND PILGRIMAGES IN KRAKOW

IF YOU ARE A BUYER: MEET OTHER TOURISM PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

IF YOU ARE A SELLER: PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT, MUSEUM, TOURISM ATTRACTION OR SHRINE

MORE DETAILS AND OFFER ON: www.icortap.com/en/expo

BE WITH US ON NOVEMBER 7-11, 2018

THE BIGGEST EVENT PROMOTING INCOMING TOURISM TO POLAND

Dear Friends!

We are happy to announce that the 2nd International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages "Following the Footsteps of the St Faustina Kowalska" will take place in Krakow, from 1th to 12th November 2018. Krakow and Malopolska Region have a great potential as a religious tourism and pilgrimage destination. Every year they are visited by millions of pilgrims and religious tourists, just let us mention the last World Youth Day which took place here in Krakow in 2016, but also the the 1st Edition of the Congress in 2017, that has also been a great success.

The 2017 edition was attended by about 200 tour operators and tour agents from 30 countiries and has already become the most important event in religious tourism branch in Central and Eastern Europe. The highest number represented Spain, followed by Italy, but also other countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, USA, Canada, Israel and many more. The attendants expressed their gratitude for the organisation of such event, mentioning also the professionalism of the organisation and valued the opportunities that Krakow, Malopolska Region and Poland have to offer. The honorary guests of the Congress were also Fátima and San Giovanni Rotondo.

You can check some photos here: www.icortap.com/en/gallery and www.facebook.com/ICoRTaP/ and on www.instagram.com/icortap_congress, and some comments here: www.icortap.com/en/opinions

"We saw with our own eyes how this new event has fit the calendar of events in Krakow: religious tourism professionals is what was needed" - says the organiser of the Congress Ernest Miroslaw, the owner of Ernesto Travel - the leading incoming tourism tour operator from Krakow. "We are pretty sure that the 2nd edition will be even bigger, with more participation of the regional and national organisations and that there will be more attendants from all over the World who will come to learn how to offer trips and pilgrimages to Krakow, Malopolska Region and Poland. Last year edition, despite being the first one, attracted 200 attendants. My aim for the second edition is 500 participants. I hope that next time there will be more non-European attendands, so we start promoting this event much earlier.

The Congress will be opened on the 8th November, by the both secular and clerical authorities of Krakow. An opening Holy Mass will be celebrated, followed by speeches, lectures and a workshop with the representatives of the local sanctuaries and tourist attractions. 9th, 10th and 11th November will be a chance for the guests from around the world to visit Krakow and Malopolska Region (Krakow Old Town, John Paul II Center, Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Salt Mine in Wieliczka, former German Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the church and museum of Wadowice - Karol Wojtyla’s birthplace, the Basilic in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and of course the Black Madonna Sanctuary in Czestochowa).

The Congress aims to be a place of contacts exchange between its participants, the promotion of Krakow and Malopolska Region as an important religious tourism and pilgrimage destination not only in Europe, but also worldwide.

The organizers welcome foreign tour agents and touroperatos, bloggers and journalists, bishops and priests as well as other religious tourism and pilgrimage organizers such as diocesan coordinators or the leaders of foundations and congregations, that want to be buyers of the services in Poland.

Check the Congress program here: www.icortap.com/en/program

Check the workshop part: www.icortap.com/en/expo

See you in Krakow!

1.02.2018

We are proud to announce that Ernesto Travel has been recognised by the International Network of Religious Tourism Agencies (REDITUR) as an agency specialised in religious tourism organisation & commercialisation in Poland and Central Europe. What's more, we are the very first Polish agency to be honoured by the REDITUR and which is allowed to use its logo!

5.01.2018

Ernesto Travel, Conhpol and Grupa Kęty are winners of this year’s Małopolska Business Award in the categories of small, medium and large entrepreneur. The special prize, in turn, was awarded to the Kraków Technology Park. It is these companies that are the leaders of entrepreneurship in the region - they create trends, set development directions for others and without complexes compete on foreign markets. During the ceremonial gala the prizes were given to the winners by the Marshall of Małopolska, Wojciech Kozak: "The Małopolska Economic Award is an award dedicated to those, without which the economic development of Małopolska would not be possible. Their success testifies to the fact that our region has significant economic potential and great development opportunities "- said the deputy speaker during the gala.

The goal of the award, since its foundation in 2009 is to promote the best entrepreneurs from Małopolska and to inspire their development, promote pro-investment attitudes and concrete innovative achievements and increase competitiveness among entrepreneurs.

The winner of the Małopolska Business Award 2017 in the Small Entrepreneur category was Ernesto Travel company: the company has been operating on the Małopolska market since 2006. The main aim of this tour operator is to attract foreign tourists to Lesser Poland (Malopolska) and other regions of our country. They are a leader in religious and pilgrimage tourism in Poland. They organised the stay of some 16.000 pilgrims during the World Youth Day and 22.500 travellers during the whole 2016. During the last 3 years of the agency’s operation, they organised trips to Malopolska for people from over 50 countries.

A month ago, Ernesto Travel organized the first International Congress of Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism, a unique event in Poland and in this part of Europe. It was visited by 200 tour operators and organizers from 30 countries. This event, although organized for the first time, has become the most important and the biggest event on the market of meetings of incoming tourism professionals to Poland. It is worth noting that Ernesto Travel is the only company from the tourist industry that received the Małopolska Economic Award in the 9-year history of its award.

The awarded companies have the right to use in all company and promotional materials the title: "Laureate of the Małopolska Business Award 2017". In addition, they are applied by the Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship to the Economic Award granted by the President of the Republic of Poland.

23.12.2017

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12.12.2017

We are honored to inform you that Ernesto Travel, together with His Exc. Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz and Krakow City Hall were awarded a special gift: a Father Pio Medallion and the Coat of Arms of San Giovanni Rotondo. The ceremony took place during the 1st International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages in Krakow

Thank you! Grazie!

24.11.2017

Dear Colleagues!

The 1st International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages "Following the footsteps of Saint John Paul II" has come to a successful end last Sunday, November 12th, 2017.

It was supported by His Em. Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz, His Em. Abp Marek Jędraszewski and the director of the Polish Tourist Organisation. This event, unique for Central and Eastern Europe, attracted almost 200 tourism professionals, travel agents, touroperators who work in the Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages Sector, from more than 30 countries. The highest numbers represented the Spanish, followed by the Italian, but some more distant countries attended, too. Let us mention Japan, Malaysia, Paraguay, Argentina, USA, Canada, Israel and many other countries (mostly European).

We received many positive comments during and after the Congress. They expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the organisers of this event, stressed the professionalism, talked about the possibilities that the tourist and religious attractions of Krakow and Malopolska (Krakow Region) have to offer. Only during the Congress, some 30 groups were booked for the coming year; we are all aware that the success of this event will be long-lasting.

The aim of the Congress was to promote Krakow and Krakow region as an important religious tourism destination worldwide and to prove the importance of the religious tourism within the global tourism industry.

The Congress was inaugurated on the November 9th, at the Saint John Paul II Center in Krakow, by the Krakow City authorities and the representatives of Krakow Archdiocese.
The opening Holy Mass was celebrated by Bp Tadeusz Pieronek and 11 priests, participants of the Congress.

The morning was dedicated to speeches, lectures, presentations and meetings with the representatives of 23 different places and companies: sanctuaries, tourist places.

The following days - 10th and 11th November were spent visiting Krakow (the Old Town, John Paul II Centre, Divine Mercy Shrine) and Malopolska Region (Wieliczka Salt Mine, Auschwitz Concentration Camp Memorial in Oswiecim, John Paul II Family Home Museum in Wadowice, the Sanctuaries of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Czestochowa - the Black Madonna).

The Partners of the Congress all involved for the success of the Congress: the Municipality of Krakow, Malopolska Voivodeship (Region), Malopolska Tourist Organisation, Wieliczka Salt Mine, John Paul II Family Home, John Paul II Centre "Have No Fear", the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, the Pastoral House of the Divine Mercy Shrine in Łagiewniki, Krakow.

The Congress was organised in cooperation with the hotels: Park Inn, Galaxy, Plus Q, INX Design, Vienna House Easy Chopin from Krakow, Mercure and Ib1st is - DeSilva hotels in Czestochowa, Imperiale Hotel in Oswiecim (Auschwitz), as well as restaurants: St Faustina Home, Pastoral House at Łagiewniki, Morskie Oko and Biała Róża in Krakow, coach companies Manifold and Luca Tour.
The Congress was sponsored by Signal Iduna, Bank PeKaO SA, Restaurant Wierzynek.
The media partners included Rynek Turystyczny, Wiadomosci Turystyczne, Tur-Info, Central de Receptivos, Viagens da Fé, ObiektySakralne.pl and some European editors who sent their reporters.

You can see the full list of the expositors at: http://icortap.com/pl/expo-sellers

The Congress was visited by the representatives of Fátima and San Giovanni Rotondo.

Visit our website: www.icortap.com

The next ICoRTaP Congress edition is scheduled for November 2018.

Below, some participant comments after the Congress:

Dear Ernest, Dagmara, Dagmara and Wojciech

Thank you so much for an excellent visit to Krakow!

I have learnt so much over the last few days and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be part of this. I have much to think about and will try and formulate some tour ideas to discuss with you – but I need some sleep first!

You created a hugely successful event and you should all be very proud of what you have achieved. Please don’t listen to any moans that you might get. Yes it was hard work but that is what we were there for, to see and do as much as possible in a short time.

Once again, many, many thanks

Kindest regards

Karen

Dear Ernesto,

Greetings from Mumbai !!.

Thank you once again for the wonderful arrangements and giving us an opportunity to see your beautiful country. Your team a did a excellent job of co-ordination and also educated us on a lot of details to do with tourism. Will not forgetting to mention the excellent services also provided by the drivers, guides hotel staff etc.

We assure you of supporting tourism in Poland and will surely write to you for our queries.

We wish and hope that you continue to be the best and look forward to doing business with you soon.

God bless and warm regards

Aruna Shetty

Dear Ernest,

Good morning!

Thank you for a lovely trip.

I would like to wish you all the very best and you have lovely staffs.

For me it was a lovely experience to see Krakow and how beautiful the country is. I will get Simon to put up some of your tour itinerary’s on our website. We are a bit tired right now and will get back to you for some itinerary’s once we are settled.

Have a lovely day!

Kind regards

Santha

Dear mr. Miroslaw,

On the behalf of our team we would like to thank you for all the organization, planning and welcoming in Krakow.

Despite an intensive and very interesting programme of activities, it was our great pleasure in joining in and learning so much more about your historically and culturally rich country and city.

As I had mentioned to Deborah on the meeting after the talks, we have two groups planning to travel to Krakow in 2018.

I’ll be emailing you the temptive dates and itineraries this week so we can start working on the quotes and details.

Please give our warmest regards to the “guides” and drivers from bus 3 for their patience and resilience.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kindest regards,

Daniela Tomé

Dear Mr. Ernest,

Thank you very much for your invitation.

I have participated on Thu morning session and I was pleasantly surprised, how interesting event and audience you have organized and brought to Krakow.

Unfortunately I was not successful to meet you in person, so I have talked to your Group manager
for Italien market, Aleksandra. I have left by her "greetings from Brno" for you.

Lucie Markova, Brno

Mr Ernest & Mr Gadek,

In behalf of my group we would like to thank you both and your organization for letting us join the congress. We had a lot of fun n shopping ? On our last leg to SFO now. Talk later....

NIDA B.E.

"There is no end to adventures we seek if only we can explore them with open eyes."

Dear Ernesto,

I want to let you know that I had a save jouney back home.

I want to thank you and the entire Ernest Travel team for the congres.

I had some very interesting contacts with you and your team, so I am sure that we will keep in touch for our pelgrimage in 2019 (we don't have a pilgrimage planned in 2018).

Again thank you for those five days.

Sincerely.

Fr. Jos Daems.

Dear Ernest,

Thank you very much for the organization of this congress. It was my first trip to Poland and I was surprised by the beauty of the city of Krakow.

The visits in French were very great, with each time a very good tour guide. The quality of the hotel was excellent, and the restaurants and food as well.

Maybe just a few comments :

-the service in the restaurants (especially the first lunch on Thursday and the last dinner on Saturday) was too slow, and it was too bad that on Thursday we did not have the time to visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary. But thankfully we could visit it on Saturday !

-The translation in the bus was for the first day only in Spanish, and it was sometimes a bit frustrating not to understand what was saying. But then on the following day, we had the translation in English as well.

I hope you are fine after this busy week !!!

Thank you to all the members of your team as well.

I am waiting for our next work collaboration.

Kind regards,

Aline

You can find some photos from the Congress (licence free):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9flcrdbpq8dxz0e/AAAx4MJXTGaGNrg905Xv0rRoa?dl=0

We will upload some of them to our gallery: http://icortap.com/pl/galeria

8.08.2017

Dear Sirs,

we would like to present you our offer for Winter 2017/2018.

Below you can find the links to our website, where we have published new offers:

1. Christmas Markets in Austria, Switzerland and Germany

2. Christmas Markets in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Germany

3. Chinese New Year in Europe

All the itineraries can be modified on your request.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

27.07.2017

Hello, we invite you to see Ernest in an interview in Krakow TV.

https://krakow.tvp.pl/33368240/26072017

11.07.2017

Dear Friends!

We are happy to announce that the 1st International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages "Following the Footsteps of the Saint Pope John Paul II" will take place in Krakow, from 8th to 12th November 2017. Please feel invited, by prof. Jacek Majchrowski, the President of Krakow. The City of Krakow is the official partner of the Congress. Also His Em. Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz confirmed his presence. Jacek Krupa - Marshal of the Małopolska Region, Marek Olszewski - President of the Polish Tourist Organization and Mons. Marek Jedraszewski Archbishop of Krakow have assumped the honorary patronage over the Congress.

Krakow and Malopolska Region have a great potential as a religious tourism and pilgrimage destination. Every year they are visited by millions of pilgrims and religious tourists, just let us mention the last World Youth Day which took place here in Krakow in 2016. These numbers are reflected in city’s and country’s profits and also new work places.

"We think there is a space and need to organize a new event in Krakow: a branch meeting of specialists from the religious tourism and pilgrimages market" - says Ernest Miroslaw, the organizer of the Congress, the owner of a local incoming tour operator Ernesto Travel which is a leader in religious tourism. "Currently no such event is organized in Central- and Eastern Europe. I think it can be a perfect preparative before the 2018 UNWTO conference which will also be held in Krakow and will be dedicated to the religious tourism. We have participated in many similar congresses and conferences; this time we hope to welcome here in Krakow and Malopolska Region several hundred persons from the branch: specialists, touroperators, tour agents, priests and others operating in the religious tourism and pilgrimage market" - says Dominika from Ernesto Travel, the initiator of the Congress.

The Congress will be opened on the 9th November, by the both secular and clerical authorities of Krakow. An opening Holy Mass will be celebrated at the John Paul II Centre, followed by speeches, lectures and a workshop with the representatives of the local sanctuaries and tourist attractions. 10th and 11th November will be a chance for the guests from around the world to visit Krakow and Malopolska Region (Krakow Old Town, John Paul II Center, Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Salt Mine in Wieliczka, former German Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the church and museum of Wadowice - Karol Wojtyla’s birthplace, the Basilic in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and of course the Black Madonna Sanctuary in Czestochowa).

The Congress aims to be a meeting place between the tour operators and the local providers as well as to promote Krakow and Malopolska Region as an important religious tourism and pilgrimage destination not only in Europe, but also worldwide, finally to strengthen the importance of religious tourism within the tourism market.

You can find more details and register by visiting the Congress website: www.ICoRTaP.com International Congress of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimages.

See you in Krakow!

The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow - Lagiewniki.

19.05.2017

Today ,,The Lady with an Ermine" moved into National Museum in Cracow!

11.04.2017

How about spending first week of May in Krakow?

https://www.facebook.com/ernesto.travel/

We would like to present you our last minute offer: 5 days in Krakow in the first week of May 2017!

The package includes: 4 nights at the 4* Hotel or 3* Hotel with buffet breakfast, transfers: airport - hotel - airport, guided visit in the Musuem Auschwitz-Birkenau as well as Wieliczka Saltmine. Other services on request.

Group of min. 2 people paying:
Price per person:

price per person in the double room Plus Q ****: 315 euro

single room supplement: 150 euro

price per person in the double room Chopin ***: 275 euro

single room supplement: 125 euro

Below please find some flights possibilities:
from Oslo Torp to Krakow with Norwegian or Ryanair from 60,00 EUR per person
from Stockholm to Krakow with Ryanair from 55,00 EUR per person
from London Stansted to Krakow with Ryanair from 80,00 EUR per person

On the request we can prepare you a group offer.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!

2.04.2017

12 years ago, on the 2nd of April, our beloved Pope John Paul II passed away. As our travel agency focuses mainly on pilgrimages, we would like to remind you that you can visit with us places connected very closely with Karol Wojtyla: Krakow - the city where he studied, lived and became a priest; Wadowice - a small city near Krakow where he was born - now you can visit a modern, interactive museum of His life; Zakopane where you may admire his beloved Tatra Mountains.
See the program on our website under this link: On the footsteps of John Paul II.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

9-10.03.2017

Ernesto Travel at V WORKSHOP INTERNACIONAL DE TURISMO RELIGIOSO, Fatima!

22.02.2017

Another great recommendation from the City Hall in Kraków.

17.12.2017

Kraków gives hospitality to His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle - Cardinal of Manila who visited Poland this February.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

After a very busy summer we would like to welcome you to the new travel season 2016/2017.
We also inform you that we are at your full disposal for preparing trips and pilgrimages for Fall 2016 (last call) and for the upcoming 2017.

We offer tailor-made trips and pilgrimages, for individual travellers and groups to the following destinations:
Krakow, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Vienna, Riga, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Warsaw and many more!

Please contact us for more tips, programs and suggestions, both for your travels in Poland and other countries.

Let us remind you that we also operate in the other European countries like:
- Baltic Countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia with Helsinki or Saint Petersburg,
- Prague and Czech Republic,
- Budapest and Hungary,
- Vienna and Austria,
- Berlin and Germany,
- Moscow and Russia,
- Bulgaria and Romania,
- Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje,
- other services in Europe.

We quote programmes for 2017 with early birds' prices and availability in the hotels in the city centers.

Don't hesitate to contact us!

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