Croatia has once again emerged as the preferred summer holiday destination for Czech travelers, with approximately 800,000 Czechs choosing its picturesque landscapes and coastal charm this year. According to recently released statistics from the Foreign Ministry, Greece and Italy followed closely, attracting 640,000 and 470,000 Czech tourists, respectively.

Despite the popularity of these destinations, the summer tourist season posed significant challenges, marked by natural disasters affecting not only Greece but also Croatia. Forest fires along the Croatian coast led to the evacuation of around 30 Czech tourists, illustrating the unforeseen obstacles faced by travelers during the season.

The Foreign Ministry highlighted another notable incident involving the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. More than 400 Czech Scouts, primarily aged between 14 and 18, had to be evacuated from Busan county due to a tropical storm and local flooding. The ministry, alongside the consular office in Seoul, provided essential assistance in managing the crisis.

Martin Smolko, the senior director of the Foreign Ministry’s legal and consular section, reported that the call centre dedicated to emergency communication with citizens handled nearly 8,000 calls. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky commended the strong consular assistance provided by embassy staff, particularly citing the successful evacuation of Czech tourists from Greece during forest fires, where a crisis intervention team was deployed to Rhodes.

Throughout the summer season, consular offices were temporarily established in key seaside resorts frequented by Czech tourists, including Rijeka and Split in Croatia, and Burgas in Bulgaria. Additionally, the honorary consulate in Barcelona received reinforcement. The ministry underscored the valuable collaboration between Czech police officers and their counterparts in Bulgaria and Croatia, emphasizing the quick and effective communication with local authorities for the benefit of Czech tourists facing difficulties.

The Drozd online travel system witnessed increased activity, with approximately 59,000 text messages and 23,000 emails sent between January and October. The number of registered users nearly doubled, reaching 180,000, reflecting the growing reliance on online platforms for travel-related information and assistance.

Article by Prague Forum