According to data from the Czech Statistical Office (CSU), the number of tourists visiting the Czech Republic has witnessed a notable increase, particularly among foreign visitors. During the first quarter of 2023, 3.8 million tourists chose to stay in hotels, guesthouses, and campsites in the country, marking a significant 33% rise compared to the same period the previous year. The number of foreign visitors experienced a remarkable growth of almost 90% during this period, while domestic tourism also saw an uptick. Overall, tourists spent close to 10 million nights in accommodation facilities, representing a 25% increase from last year.

Out of the total 3.8 million visitors, domestic tourists accounted for 2.1 million, with the remaining 1.7 million coming from abroad. Despite the increase, the number of visitors still falls short of the pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. Operators have reported a 20% decline in foreign clientele compared to pre-pandemic figures, according to Pavel Vančura, head of the CSU’s tourism and environment statistics department.

Hotel guests saw a substantial year-on-year increase of 43.4% to reach 2.9 million during the first three months. Additionally, half a million tourists opted to stay in guesthouses, reflecting a 10% rise from the previous year. Other accommodation facilities accounted for one-tenth of the total. The most popular regions, aside from Prague and the Karlovy Vary region, were the Královéhradecký and Liberecký regions. However, domestic clients visiting these regions decreased compared to the previous year.

Among foreign visitors, Germans constituted the largest group, accounting for a quarter of all tourists staying in Czech accommodation facilities. Approximately 438,200 Germans visited the country in Q1 2023. The second-largest group was visitors from Slovakia, with 154,360 people, followed by visitors from Poland, totaling around 133,080 guests.

While the tourism industry has shown signs of recovery since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges remain to ensure sustained growth, particularly as several countries grapple with new waves of infections. The sector’s revival is closely tied to successful vaccination campaigns and the easing of travel restrictions. Hopes are high that tourism will continue its recovery trajectory in the Czech Republic and globally, offering a much-needed boost to the industry.

Article by Prague Forum