Feb 19, 2025

Flights Resume, Hotels Fill Up: Chinese Tourists Flock to Czechia Again

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Prague Morning

The number of Chinese visitors to the Czech Republic is surging.

Tourists, businesspeople, and students are once again making their way to Prague, marking a sharp contrast to the era of former President Miloลก Zeman, whose efforts to attract Chinese investment largely failed.

According to CzechTourism, nearly 174,000 Chinese visitors came to the Czech Republic last year, nearly doubling from the previous year. While this remains far below the 600,000-plus visitors recorded in 2019, the upward trend is clear and is expected to continue.

The revival of direct air links has played a crucial role.

Last June, Hainan Airlines resumed flights between Beijing and Prague after a multi-year hiatus. More routes are expected soon, with Prague Airportโ€™s CEO Jiล™รญ Pos identifying a planned Shanghai-Prague connection via China Eastern Airlines as a top priority.

CzechTourism Targets the Chinese Market

CzechTourism is actively working to attract more Chinese travelers by expanding press trips and influencer collaborations to promote the country as a desirable destination.

โ€œWe are increasing our focus on China by organizing media tours and influencer visits, which are key to building interest in Czechia,โ€ said Lukรกลก Pokornรฝ, head of CzechTourismโ€™s China office.

Czechia will also have a strong presence at an upcoming tourism trade fair in Beijing, where local travel agencies and media will get a closer look at what the country has to offer.

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Economic Impact of Chinese Tourists

The importance of Chinese visitors to the Czech economy is evident in pre-pandemic tourism figures. In 2019, China ranked as the fourth-largest source of tourists, after Germany (2.1 million), Slovakia (750,000), and Poland (672,000).

Chinese tourists primarily visited Prague and ฤŒeskรฝ Krumlov, typically spending two to three days in the country before continuing their European journeys.

Vlastislav ล os, CEO of Olympik Hotels, expects a return to pre-pandemic numbers, noting a rise in reservations from Asian guests.

โ€œBased on current and projected bookings, we anticipate Asian tourists will make up 14% of our clientele this year, up from 10% last year,โ€ he stated. He emphasized that direct flight expansions signal long-term growth in Chinese tourism.

Chinese Students Are Also Returning

Beyond tourism, the influx of Chinese students is also notable. The Prague European Centre for Career Education expects a fourfold increase in Chinese students this year, with around 100 enrollmentsโ€”half of whom have already paid tuition.

Charles University currently hosts 237 Chinese students, who often pay tuition fees in the tens of thousands of Czech crowns per semester. However, the university remains cautious in predicting future growth in Chinese enrollments.

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