Supporters visiting the tournament, which is in doubt because of a dispute between the Polish FA and world governing body FIFA and concern over the pace of preparations, should also expect lower hospitality standards than they are used too.

 

Katajina Soberaiska, Poland's Vice Minister for Sport and Tourism, said: "We understand that 2012 will be complicated as there are two important events - Euro 2012 and the 30th Olympics in London.

 

"Both competitions are scheduled close together in the Summer of 2012.

 

"The football Championship takes place June 9-July 1, the Olympics follow July 27-August 12.

 

"Euro 2012 might not be a hit for the tourist industry."

 

The Polish and Ukrainian government should therefore exercise caution when constructing infrastructure to support Euro 2012, both in scale and type, Soberaiska said.

 

She said: "We have to be very careful about building hotels.

 

"We need to understand that the customer that comes for Euro 2012 is not looking for a four- or five-star hotel, but rather [we should] place special attention on lodging for youth, in part [building] tent villages."

 

Cruise ships may also be used to help make up for the shortfall in the number of hotel rooms for the event which will be contested by teams from 16 countries.

 

Ukrainian officials faced with the prospect of hundreds of thousands of visitors during Euro 2012 are the worse off, as the former Soviet republic's hotel industry currently can handle only a fraction of the expected guests.

 

Poland's lodging industry is also in difficulties, with sufficient hotel rooms thought to be concentrated in the capital Warsaw, which is one of four planned Polish host cities.