Rafał Szlachta won the competition for the office of President of Polish Tourism Organisation (Polska Organizacja Turystyczna - POT). Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin presented the appointment letter. POT’s council unanimously adopted a resolution positively evaluating the candidate. 14 members voted in favour and one abstained from voting.

Rafał Szlachta is a Polish diplomat, businessman and an international advocate for sports and tourism. Until January 2020 he held the position of Director of Department of Tourism in ministries in charge of economy, where he was responsible for setting directions of and prioritizing the Department’s operations. He also supervised the implementation of tourism promotion activities in domestic and global market. Rafał Szlachta co-created the support instruments for the industry affected by COVID-19 implications, including the tourist voucher and the so-called tourist shield. Previously, he operated his own business in. i.a. the tourism sector. He organized leisure activities for children and young people and co-owned a Thai restaurant in Kraków.

Rafał Szlachta boasts many years of experience gained as, i.a. President of Polish Muaythai Federation, Vice President of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IMFA) and Secretary General of the European Muaythai Federation (EMF). When fulfilling these roles he headed international projects and managed large teams.

The list of Rafał Szlachta’s many accomplishments also includes co-organising the Days of Thailand - the 2017 edition on the Vistula boulevards in Warsaw and the 2016 edition in Kraków’s Small Market Square.

Rafał Szlachta graduated from Faculty of Tourism and Leisure at the University of Physical Education in Kraków. He also holds a post-secondary degree in public administration and local government. In 2019 Rafał Szlachta began working on a Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Management. He is a fluent speaker of English and Russian.