The Guardian recently published this excellent article about how foreign tourism to Poland can actually help boost Poland’s own heroic efforts to help Ukraine and her people. The article goes on to describe traveling in Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk and especially the unique gastronomy of each city and Poland in general here's the full article https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/jul/12/how-a-holiday-in-poland-can-help-support-ukraine
Here are some highlights:
"The question is, does it feel right to be a “tourist” at a time like this? I would say absolutely, yes. By spending money in Poland you are directly supporting those helping Ukrainians – hotel owners who are offering free stays to those who have fled, restaurant chefs delivering free meals to refugee centres, and ordinary Poles, from shop owners and waiters to bartenders and taxi drivers, who have offered millions of refugees a place to sleep in their homes."
"At art galleries and museums there are QR codes to scan to donate to charities and boxes to drop cash in. In many cafes the price of your cappuccino is donated to Ukrainian charities. The generosity here is heartfelt and moving."
And I learned that food aside, there is now another pressing reason to go. Poland is making enormous efforts to assist Ukrainians, still arriving in their thousands by bus and train every day (around 1.2 million have applied for temporary residence in Poland). Giant tented kitchens are operating around the clock at railway stations, hotels are hosting refugees, cafes are raising money, chefs are delivering meals and museums and galleries all have donation boxes. There is an intense atmosphere of solidarity. For every Polish flag flying, there is a Ukrainian one.
I thought this was a very timely topic as I myself have recently returned from a trip to Poland back in April and hold many of the same sentiments noted above. Unfortunately I think many are either spooked by the war, feel "guilty" about being on holiday in proximity to a crisis, or don't want to "add" to the refugee crisis.
These misconceptions are negatively affecting the economies of neighboring countries and by extension their ability to help the Ukrainian people. I spoke with some Polish hoteliers when I was there and many North Americans have unfortunately decided to cancel bookings and their upcoming trips to Poland. By supporting the Polish tourism economy you are helping prop up a number of seasonal jobs that Ukrainians can work in.
When I was in Poland I observed that there was no military presence, no shortages of food or supplies, shops and restaurants bustling, but most hotels were half empty. Lots of domestic tourism but little foreigner tourism, only really British and Germans in the touristy areas. I travelled from Wrocław to Krakow and I did not encounter many Ukrainian refugees, maybe 2-3 families at one time and a number of the Uber/Taxi drivers were Ukrainian however.
Rick Steves' frequent co-author, Cameron Hewitt, also agrees as it seems he just returned from leading the first "Best of Poland" tour - https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2022/05/poland-ukraine-crisis/