In the second quarter of this year, domestic hotels, guesthouses, and other collective accommodation facilities welcomed a total of 6.4 million guests, who spent more than 15.1 million nights there. The average length of stay was 3.38 days. Residents accounted for 54% of all arrivals, while foreign visitors accounted for 46%. As is traditional, Prague recorded the highest number of guests and overnight stays, followed by the South Moravian and South Bohemian regions. In terms of the number of overnight stays, the Karlovy Vary and South Moravian regions ranked behind the capital. The largest numbers of foreign tourists came from Germany (649,000), Slovakia (262,000), and Poland (255,000). Visitors from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Austria also traveled to Czechia in significant numbers.
The Capital Leads, Regions Continue to Demonstrate Their Potential
Prague continues to hold its position as the most-visited destination in Czechia. In the second quarter, it welcomed 2.2 million visitors, who spent nearly 5 million nights there. The South Moravian Region was visited by nearly 625,000 tourists, and the South Bohemian Region by more than 500,000. Thanks to its spa tradition, the Karlovy Vary Region maintained the longest average length of stay (4.84 days). In addition to the capital, the Karlovy Vary, South Moravian, South Bohemian, and Hradec Králové regions also recorded more than one million overnight stays.
The Moravian-Silesian, Hradec Králové, and Liberec Regions reported the highest year-over-year growth in arrivals. The Plzeň, Zlín, South Bohemian, and Central Bohemian Regions also reported higher visitor numbers. Conversely, the Karlovy Vary Region recorded the largest decline (-4.3%). The results confirm that, in addition to traditional tourist destinations, interest is also growing in other regions that offer an attractive combination of nature, active vacations, cultural heritage, and spa tourism.
Stable Results Confirm Interest in Czechia
In the second quarter of this year, the number of arrivals rose by 0.5% and the number of overnight stays by 0.3%. The number of domestic guests increased by 0.9% year-over-year, while the number of foreign visitors remained virtually unchanged from last year. Nevertheless, foreign guests spent more time in the country—the number of their overnight stays rose by 0.6%. In contrast, the number of domestic visitors fell by 0.7%.
As is traditional, the largest number of foreign tourists came from Germany, Slovakia, and Poland. Among the fastest-growing source markets in the second quarter were, among others, Turkey (+21.8%), Bulgaria (+20.8%), and Brazil (+20%). The number of visitors from the U.S. (+9.4%) and Japan (+7.2%) also rose year-over-year. This positive trend was also reflected in the number of overnight stays, with the highest year-over-year growth coming from Brazil (+24.6%), Turkey (+24.4%), and Finland (+21%). The latest data also confirm that efforts to boost arrivals from high-spending, more distant markets are succeeding. This is evidenced by the growth in the number of overnight stays by visitors from the United States (+9.1%), Canada (+9.8%), Japan (+9.3%), Taiwan (+5.4%), and China (+3.4%).
“The second-quarter results confirm that Czech tourism remains in very good shape. We are pleased that domestic tourists are once again discovering Czechia to a greater extent. After several years of dynamic growth, the number of foreign visitors has naturally stabilized this year. The uncertainty associated with geopolitical developments in the Middle East may also have played a role, potentially influencing the decisions of some travelers. “That is why we continue to focus on high-spending visitors from distant countries, who typically spend more time here and travel more extensively throughout the regions. Their visits bring greater benefits to local businesses and the entire Czech economy,” summarizes František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism and adds: “Direct flight connections also play a significant role in this regard, as they improve the accessibility of Czechia from key foreign markets. In addition to the routes launched this year from Philadelphia and Toronto, as well as the new regular connection from Abu Dhabi, STARLUX Airlines, which has launched a route connecting Prague with Taipei. The Czech capital is thus further strengthening its position as a major aviation hub between Europe and Asia. At the same time, the new connection facilitates travel not only for visitors from Taiwan, but also from Japan and other countries in East and Southeast Asia, for whom Taipei serves as an important transit hub.“
Regional Differences and Length of Stay
In the second quarter of this year, the number of overnight guests increased year-over-year in half of the country’s regions. The highest growth rates were recorded in the Moravian-Silesian, Hradec Králové, and Liberec regions. The Plzeň, Zlín, South Bohemian, and Central Bohemian regions also reported higher visitor numbers. In contrast, the Karlovy Vary Region recorded the most significant year-over-year decline (-4.3%). The average length of stay in the second quarter was 3.38 days. As is traditional, visitors stayed the longest in the Karlovy Vary Region (4.84 days), where spa guests make up a significant portion of the clientele. Longer stays were also recorded in the Olomouc (3.62 days), Zlín (3.59 days), and Hradec Králové (3.53 days) regions. Conversely, shorter stays are typical primarily for urban destinations and regions with a predominance of business or transit travel.
Hotels Remain the Most Popular Choice
Hotels remain the most sought-after type of collective accommodation. In the second quarter of this year, they accommodated 4.5 million guests, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.5%. The number of domestic guests increased by 4%, while the number of foreign visitors declined slightly by 0.4%. As is traditional, the greatest demand was for four-star hotels, which reported a 1.4% increase in the number of guests and a 0.5% increase in overnight stays. More than 800,000 guests stayed at guesthouses, spending nearly 1.8 million nights there. Other collective accommodation facilities, including campgrounds, recorded a year-over-year decline of 2.9% in arrivals and 2.3% in overnight stays.
First Half of the Year Confirms Stable Growth
The results for the first six months of this year confirm the continued stable development of Czech tourism. From January through the end of June, 10.7 million guests stayed at collective accommodation facilities, spending a total of 26.2 million overnight stays there. Compared to the same period last year, the number of arrivals increased by 2.3% and overnight stays by 2.5%. There were 5.7 million domestic tourists and more than 5 million foreign tourists. The average length of stay was 3.45 days.
While growth in foreign visitor arrivals virtually stalled in the second quarter, the results for the first half of the year as a whole confirm the continued growth of inbound tourism. The number of overnight stays by foreign guests grew even more significantly, indicating that visitors from abroad are spending more time in Czechia. This trend is very positive from the perspective of the economic benefits of tourism.
Further details are available on the Tourdata.cz website.
Prague continues to hold its position as the most-visited destination in Czechia. In the second quarter, it welcomed 2.2 million visitors, who spent nearly 5 million nights there. The South Moravian Region was visited by nearly 625,000 tourists, and the South Bohemian Region by more than 500,000. Thanks to its spa tradition, the Karlovy Vary Region maintained the longest average length of stay (4.84 days). In addition to the capital, the Karlovy Vary, South Moravian, South Bohemian, and Hradec Králové regions also recorded more than one million overnight stays.
The Moravian-Silesian, Hradec Králové, and Liberec Regions reported the highest year-over-year growth in arrivals. The Plzeň, Zlín, South Bohemian, and Central Bohemian Regions also reported higher visitor numbers. Conversely, the Karlovy Vary Region recorded the largest decline (-4.3%). The results confirm that, in addition to traditional tourist destinations, interest is also growing in other regions that offer an attractive combination of nature, active vacations, cultural heritage, and spa tourism.
Stable Results Confirm Interest in Czechia
In the second quarter of this year, the number of arrivals rose by 0.5% and the number of overnight stays by 0.3%. The number of domestic guests increased by 0.9% year-over-year, while the number of foreign visitors remained virtually unchanged from last year. Nevertheless, foreign guests spent more time in the country—the number of their overnight stays rose by 0.6%. In contrast, the number of domestic visitors fell by 0.7%.
As is traditional, the largest number of foreign tourists came from Germany, Slovakia, and Poland. Among the fastest-growing source markets in the second quarter were, among others, Turkey (+21.8%), Bulgaria (+20.8%), and Brazil (+20%). The number of visitors from the U.S. (+9.4%) and Japan (+7.2%) also rose year-over-year. This positive trend was also reflected in the number of overnight stays, with the highest year-over-year growth coming from Brazil (+24.6%), Turkey (+24.4%), and Finland (+21%). The latest data also confirm that efforts to boost arrivals from high-spending, more distant markets are succeeding. This is evidenced by the growth in the number of overnight stays by visitors from the United States (+9.1%), Canada (+9.8%), Japan (+9.3%), Taiwan (+5.4%), and China (+3.4%).
“The second-quarter results confirm that Czech tourism remains in very good shape. We are pleased that domestic tourists are once again discovering Czechia to a greater extent. After several years of dynamic growth, the number of foreign visitors has naturally stabilized this year. The uncertainty associated with geopolitical developments in the Middle East may also have played a role, potentially influencing the decisions of some travelers. “That is why we continue to focus on high-spending visitors from distant countries, who typically spend more time here and travel more extensively throughout the regions. Their visits bring greater benefits to local businesses and the entire Czech economy,” summarizes František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism and adds: “Direct flight connections also play a significant role in this regard, as they improve the accessibility of Czechia from key foreign markets. In addition to the routes launched this year from Philadelphia and Toronto, as well as the new regular connection from Abu Dhabi, STARLUX Airlines, which has launched a route connecting Prague with Taipei. The Czech capital is thus further strengthening its position as a major aviation hub between Europe and Asia. At the same time, the new connection facilitates travel not only for visitors from Taiwan, but also from Japan and other countries in East and Southeast Asia, for whom Taipei serves as an important transit hub.“
Regional Differences and Length of Stay
In the second quarter of this year, the number of overnight guests increased year-over-year in half of the country’s regions. The highest growth rates were recorded in the Moravian-Silesian, Hradec Králové, and Liberec regions. The Plzeň, Zlín, South Bohemian, and Central Bohemian regions also reported higher visitor numbers. In contrast, the Karlovy Vary Region recorded the most significant year-over-year decline (-4.3%). The average length of stay in the second quarter was 3.38 days. As is traditional, visitors stayed the longest in the Karlovy Vary Region (4.84 days), where spa guests make up a significant portion of the clientele. Longer stays were also recorded in the Olomouc (3.62 days), Zlín (3.59 days), and Hradec Králové (3.53 days) regions. Conversely, shorter stays are typical primarily for urban destinations and regions with a predominance of business or transit travel.
Hotels Remain the Most Popular Choice
Hotels remain the most sought-after type of collective accommodation. In the second quarter of this year, they accommodated 4.5 million guests, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.5%. The number of domestic guests increased by 4%, while the number of foreign visitors declined slightly by 0.4%. As is traditional, the greatest demand was for four-star hotels, which reported a 1.4% increase in the number of guests and a 0.5% increase in overnight stays. More than 800,000 guests stayed at guesthouses, spending nearly 1.8 million nights there. Other collective accommodation facilities, including campgrounds, recorded a year-over-year decline of 2.9% in arrivals and 2.3% in overnight stays.
First Half of the Year Confirms Stable Growth
The results for the first six months of this year confirm the continued stable development of Czech tourism. From January through the end of June, 10.7 million guests stayed at collective accommodation facilities, spending a total of 26.2 million overnight stays there. Compared to the same period last year, the number of arrivals increased by 2.3% and overnight stays by 2.5%. There were 5.7 million domestic tourists and more than 5 million foreign tourists. The average length of stay was 3.45 days.
While growth in foreign visitor arrivals virtually stalled in the second quarter, the results for the first half of the year as a whole confirm the continued growth of inbound tourism. The number of overnight stays by foreign guests grew even more significantly, indicating that visitors from abroad are spending more time in Czechia. This trend is very positive from the perspective of the economic benefits of tourism.
Further details are available on the Tourdata.cz website.