Around 3.8 million tourists stayed in the Czech Republic in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, a third more than in 2022, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said on Friday. Of them, 1.7 million tourists arrived from abroad, an almost 90 percent increase year-on-year, the CSU said, noting that, as in previous years, most of them came from Germany. The number of tourist overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments in the Czech Republic was 9.9 million in Q1 2023, up 26.4 percent year-on-year. “After the COVID-19 crisis, the number of guests was gradually increasing. However, it was still not at the same level compared to the year 2019. Operators of accommodation establishments were still missing a fifth of their clientele from abroad, who were coming to the Czech Republic before the crisis,” Pavel Vancura, head of the CSU’s Tourism and Environmental Statistics Unit, said in a statement. In Q1 2019, four million tourists stayed in the Czech Republic, the majority of whom were foreign visitors. According to fresh figures published on Tuesday by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an estimated 235 million tourists traveled internationally in the first three months of this year, more than double the...
It was a zappy ending. A Czech man has died — and there’s no way to put this delicately — with a pingpong ball up his bum, after electrocuting himself during a self-pleasuring session gone horribly awry. The shocking incident was detailed in the journal Legal Medicine by doctors from the University Hospital Hradec Králové where the autopsy was performed. Authors said the 30-year-old man was trying to simultaneously satisfy multiple atypical fetishes — a practice known as autoerotic paraphilia. His unorthodox self-stimulation methods involved “body wrapping, cross-dressing, anal masochism, self-fetishism, and lower abdomen stimulation with an electric mechanical massage device.” According to the case report, the singleton’s parents realized something was amiss after their son, who lived in the same apartment, didn’t open his locked door despite them knocking multiple times. They called the fire department, who pried open the door with a lever, whereupon they saw their son’s lifeless body lying on the floor. He was wearing a “one-piece women’s swimsuit” while his lower limbs, trunk and neck were tightly bound with plastic and textile straps, per the case study. Next to his corpse was a one-handed electric massage device with signs of “wear” that he’d purportedly used on...
Mineral water, cola, juices and energy drinks. The tax surprise caught beverage producers by surprise. One significant ambiguity has loomed since the remarkable unveiling of the consolidation package yesterday (May 11). Based on the government’s report and Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura’s (ODS) statement, looks like that beverages would be subject to the higher VAT rate. Regarding VAT rates, there will be a separation between food and soft drinks. With the exception of tap water (which falls under the 12 percent rate due to water and sewerage charges), soft drinks’ prices will increase by up to seven percentage points. Štefan Fous from the Ministry of Finance confirmed that the reasons for this adjustment include the growing consumption of energy and sweetened beverages, as well as the frequent sale and distribution of such products in disposable packaging, often made of plastic. Veronika Jakubcová, executive director of the Association of Soft Drink Producers, expressed her dismay, stating, “The beverage industry views this development very unfavorably. It is a significant disappointment for us, as it will inevitably lead to higher prices for the end consumer.” Jakubcová believes that the higher tax should also be applied to coffee. Conversely, milk and dairy products such as...
A legal definition of domestic violence, missing in the national legislation so far, was introduced into law in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Despite alarming numbers, Czech legislation had no domestic violence definition, which brought significant uncertainty into police conduct or judicial decision-making. Therefore, the Czech government office created an overarching definition of domestic violence in the Civil Code, which should be in force by the middle of next year. The proposal was presented by the Czech Government Commissioner for Human Rights Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková on Tuesday. Almost 30% of women and 12% of men in the Czech Republic have experienced domestic violence, according to data from 2022. In the majority of cases, the perpetrator is an intimate partner, while less than one-fifth of the victims report abuse by other family members. “The experience of organisations helping victims has long shown that our system of protection against domestic violence is not perfect,” she said to Czech journalists, adding that the problem could be even more than presented statistics say. “The published figures are just the tip of an imaginary iceberg. Only one in five cases of serious domestic violence is reported,” she said. According to Branislava Marvánová Vargová of the...
German low-cost carrier Eurowings will launch a direct flight between Prague and Tbilisi. The carrier will start flying between the two capitals from 30 October 2023. The flight will be operated twice a week – on Mondays and Fridays. The journey time will be 3 hours and 40 minutes. Tickets are already on sale. The cost of one-way flight at basic fare (with hand luggage only) starts from 3500 CZK. It will be the second direct flight between the Czech Republic and Georgia. At the moment, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air flies from Prague to Kutaisi (Georgia’s second largest city). The Georgian destination is becoming increasingly popular among Czech tourists. The visa-free regime between the countries, which has been in place since 2005, also contributes to the popularity. What to visit Tbilisi offers a charming mix of both cultures, and plenty to do. Cobblestone streets wind through Old Town, a sprawling maze of historic buildings like the Anchiskhati Basilica, which dates back to the sixth century. On Rustaveli Avenue, you’ll find a string of art museums and so many world-class cafes you’ll feel “like you could be in Paris,” according to a Money reader. Pop into one of the local...
The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space was established in 1967 to bring the best of design for performance, scenography, and theatre architecture. Opening of the main exhibitions of the Prague Quadrennial will take place on Wednesday, 7 June at 6 p.m. in the Holešovice Market Hall – the main venue of this 15th edition. Numerous parts will also be hosted in the National Gallery and The Academy of Performing Arts. PQ does not operate merely as a festival, gradually it has evolved into a platform, which explores progressive approaches, new media, virtual spaces and interdisciplinary relations. The main two exhibitions – the Exhibition of Countries and Regions and the Student Exhibition – are competitive and the artistic teams of individual countries and regions are appointed by the local curator representatives. During the eleven days, the visitors of PQ will have the opportunity to experience around 150 exhibitory projects and installations, 50 performances mainly in the public space, a live exhibition of 35 concepts of performance spaces, 60 of the most inspired publications about scenography issued in the past five years or 40 blocks of expert lectures. Each programme section examines scenography/performance design from a different point of view, making the Prague Quadrennial one of the most...
All-female band Vesna have made it as one of the 26 artists who will be competing in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday in Liverpool. The girl group, representing Czechia in the contest, are among the top 10 performers from Tuesday night’s semi-final, along with Sweden, Norway, and Israel. Former Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas twice gave false testimony in court in favour of his wife Jana Necasova, the appeals court stated today, definitively upholding Necas’s year-long suspended sentence for perjury and a fine of CZK 100,000. Necas is thus the first ever Czech prime minister to be definitively convicted of a crime. . Prague is planning to introduce a charge for non-residents travelling by car in the historic city centre and to limit visitor parking there. The aim is to discourage unnecessary journeys through the centre in order to decrease traffic. The measure could come into effect at the beginning of next year. The German state of Saxony has requested the temporary introduction of border controls with the Czech Republic and Poland. German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed at a meeting with regional government leaders on Wednesday that Germany could introduce border controls with its neighbours depending on the migration situation....
In and around Prague, you can find vending machines that sell fresh eggs, while in Brno, you can stumble upon vending machines for fruits and vegetables. In the northern regions, they sell locally sourced meat. Ten years ago, Josef Dvořák traveled across Europe to learn about chicken farming practices abroad. During his travels, he found a vending machine where people could easily purchase eggs at any time, day or night. Inspired by this, he decided to introduce a similar concept in the Czech Republic. Today, after nine years, he operates sixteen vending machines in the country, offering fresh eggs directly from his hens. Dvořák has no plans to expand further. He initially wanted to place the vejcomat (eggcomat) in areas where fresh eggs are scarce, such as the center of Prague, but the conditions weren’t suitable at the moment. “I’m referring to the issue of rents, which vary. It’s more about financial constraints. Selling eggs is not the same as selling Red Bulls,” says Dvořák, mentioning that he hasn’t reached an agreement with the shopping center in Chodov. The farm supplies the egg machines approximately every two days. Although a single machine can hold six hundred eggs, Dvořák assures that they...
Czech inflation slowed further in April to a headline rate of 12.7%, its lowest since March 2022, data showed on Thursday, possibly taking pressure off a central bank that has been weighing another interest rate hike. On a month-on-month basis, overall consumer prices fell 0.2%. The figures come after the Czech National Bank last week nearly renewed an interest rate hiking cycle that has been on hold since the middle of 2022. It voted 4-3 for stability, while those backing tighter policy had concerns over wage developments and loose fiscal policy. With the state budget deficit rising at a record pace so far in 2023, the government is set to detail a budget consolidation plan to cut the 2024 deficit by around 70 billion crowns ($3.30 billion) later on Thursday. Markets are pricing in little chance the central bank will raise interest rates again, after its 2021-22 tightening cycle lifted the base rate by 675 basis points to 7.00%. Analysts said April inflation data backed a view of no more rate hikes. “Inflation could fall even faster as cost conditions are improving,” Banka Creditas economist Petr Dufek said, citing easing gas prices and weakened demand as examples. Food prices rose...
On May 17th, Some Like It Czech is hosting a screening event for the uplifting drama Dark Blue World, a heartfelt tribute to the heroic Czechoslovak pilots who served in the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Directed by the acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker Jan Svěrák, this movie has been hailed as the main source of inspiration for the Hollywood blockbuster Pearl Harbor. To add an extra layer of context and insight, this screening will be accompanied by an introduction by a RAF historian Daniel Švec. “The heroes of the air battles over Europe, who won us respect among the peoples of all countries of the world, are gloriously returning to Prague, from where they once fled like outlaws. They were greeted at Ruzyně airport by general Svoboda and numerous officials.” With these words, the Czechoslovak Film Weekly reported on the return of the Czechoslovak pilots who served in RAF in August 1945. And these heroes are coming back once again… on a silver screen with the movie Dark Blue World (2001, watch the trailer) directed by an Academy winner Jan Svěrák. The film follows the story of two Czech pilots, who escape their homeland after the Nazi occupation...
Prague, in cooperation with the Prague 1 district, plans to charge non-residents entry fees for driving through the city’s historical center. The aim is to reduce excessive traffic passing through the center and to calm the traffic, as stated by the deputy mayor for transport, Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), and the mayor of the first district, Terezie Radoměřská (TOP 09), during a debate on transport in Prague 1 on Wednesday. The measure could be implemented at the beginning of next year, but the details are still under discussion. There are also plans to restrict visitor parking in the center. According to Hřib, the current municipal management and Prague 1 have reached an agreement on charging fees instead of completely closing some areas to transit. “It’s a softer measure, but it pursues the same goal,” he said. Radoměřská confirmed his words, saying, “The zone in the city center should have a fee.” The city council will decide whether to introduce the measure. Hřib added that the congested city center is also a problem from the perspective of public transport, as cars slow down trams and cause delays throughout the network. He said that charging for entry should not affect residents at all, as it...
Orlando Bloom, the Hollywood star who lived in Prague for years during the filming of Amazon’s Carnival Row, apparently became a big fan of Czech beer in that time. Bloom has recently signed up to become the new brand ambassador for the Prague-based brewery, Staropramen. He will be the face of the new Staropramen TV commercial and social media campaign throughout Europe, set to launch later this year. “I’m happy to be representing such a quality product like Staropramen,” the actor states through a press release. “I think it’s important to partner with brands that practice what they preach. The team at Staropramen talk about quality and expertise a lot and, when it comes down to it, this is a great-tasting beer, brewed by some incredibly talented people.” The announcement of Bloom as its new ambassador comes after the expansion of the brand worldwide, including markets in Europe and Asia. Staropramen has been catering to a discerning audience for well over a century, which speaks to the high quality of their beer. The company also launched their zero-alcohol beer Staropramen 0.0 earlier this year in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other European markets. Parent company Molson Coors is seeking further...
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