Tourism in Czechia is gaining strength again, with visitor numbers — both local and foreign — approaching those seen before the pandemic.

In the first quarter of 2025, hotels and other accommodation facilities welcomed 4.1 million guests, who collectively spent 10.5 million nights in the country, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).

While domestic tourists made up a slight majority (53%), the number of foreign visitors rose by nearly 2% compared to the same period last year, making up 47.5% of total arrivals. The average stay was 3.5 days, with international guests increasingly opting for longer visits.

Prague remains the top tourist destination, pulling in 1.6 million visitors, followed by the Hradec Králové Region (366,000) and South Moravia (307,000).

Yet it was the Karlovy Vary Region that recorded the longest average stay – 6.09 days, far exceeding the national average. In contrast, South Moravia and the Vysočina Region reported much shorter average stays of 2.66 and 2.52 days, respectively.

“This data confirms that we are succeeding in attracting visitors beyond traditional tourist hotspots,” said František Reismüller, Director of CzechTourism. “We’re seeing positive year-on-year growth in nearly all regions.”

Foreign Interest Climbs – Especially from Israel, China, and the U.S.

A particularly sharp increase was noted in arrivals from Israel: more than 48,000 Israeli tourists visited the Czech Republic during Q1 — a 58% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, visits from China rose nearly 39%, and American tourists increased by over 4%.

Out of the total 4.1 million visitors, 1.2 million stayed in hotels. Among hotel guests, 55% were foreign, primarily from Germany, Slovakia, the UK, Italy, and Poland.

While some key markets like Germany and Slovakia saw a slight decline, Polish tourism surged by nearly 20%, according to CzechTourism’s official data.

CzechTourism Targets Longer Stays and Higher Spending

Reismüller emphasized the agency’s strategy: “Our goal is to maintain and grow visitor numbers from key markets while focusing on longer stays and higher tourist spending.” He also named Germany, the U.S., the UK, Northern Ireland, and Italy as the most financially valuable markets.

CzechTourism is also eyeing long-haul destinations, with marketing efforts expanding in China, Canada, and Arab countries. A new campaign, developed in collaboration with other Visegrád Four (V4) countries, will specifically target Chinese travelers.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more