Prague is becoming a premium destination
The capital of the Czech Republic is witnessing a new composition of tourists, who are becoming increasingly willing to spend. Indeed, data confirm that Prague has succeeded in realizing the vision of the Inbound Tourism Concept 2020-2023 and that tourism is moving in the right direction.
One of the key tools for the development of sustainable tourism has become the tourist tax. In 2023, in fact, Prague collected 801 million crowns, part of which was further reinvested in city projects that in turn helped the metropolis attract a clientele willing to spend higher sums and treat the city with respect. Also, thanks to this strategy, tourist spending increased by 40% compared to 2019, and the demand for luxury hotels increased by a third compared to the previous year.
The capital of the Czech Republic is gradually shedding the label of an “economic destination,” making tourists no longer go there for cheap alcohol but for its history, monuments, and culture.
This trend is also confirmed by data from STR Report, which monitors the hotel industry, showing that in the first quarter of 2024, hotel occupancy in metropolitan areas increased most significantly in the luxury segment, by almost a third. Among the various monitored destinations, hotel occupancy in Prague between January and March of this year grew most significantly. It is important to note that hotels in the centers of Budapest, Rome, and Warsaw even recorded a decline in occupancy compared to the data from the Czech capital in 2023.
There is once again an upward trend especially in the number of domestic visitors, who after the pandemic steadily account for 20-25% of incoming travelers. In fact, Prague is confirmed for the second consecutive time as the most popular destination for Czechs compared to other domestic cities.
Based on the data obtained, the vice president of the board of directors of Prague’s tourism announces satisfaction with the implemented campaigns aimed at this change in direction, which according to data from the questionnaire administered by the CzechTourism agency, have placed culture at the top of the motivations for visiting the Czech capital, relegating alcohol to fourth place. Currently, a new tourism strategy is being prepared, extending until 2027, comprising 29 projects that primarily reflect the interests of the city and its residents.
In conclusion, Prague is emerging as a premium destination in the European tourism panorama. Thanks to targeted strategies, such as the implementation of the tourist tax, partly reinvested in city projects, the Czech capital has increasingly attracted a clientele willing to spend. This transformation has led to a significant increase in tourist spending, gradually distancing it from the epithet of an “economical destination.”
With a new tourism strategy, which will run through 2027, Prague continues to look towards the future, reflecting the interests of the city and its residents, continuing to consolidate its position as one of the most desirable destinations in Europe.
Sources: https://www.ttg.cz/
