Bieszczady tourism faces decline due to rising bear populations

The tourism industry in the Bieszczady region is facing challenges due to an increasing population of brown bears. Estimates of the number of bears in the Podkarpacie region vary, with figures ranging from 100 to 350 individuals.

Concerns regarding predator presence have led to a trend of mass hotel reservation cancellations, which is negatively impacting the local economy. While neighboring countries like Slovakia, Romania, and Japan utilize controlled culling to manage predator populations and ensure public safety, there is ongoing debate regarding the management of wildlife in Poland.