Wave of Change: Czechs and Germans Step In as Asian and Russian Tourists Fade

Czechs and Germans have taken the place of Asian and Russian tourists, leading to a resurgence in hotel numbers, reminiscent of pre-Covid times.

In the second quarter of this year, hotels, guesthouses, and campsites in the Czech Republic welcomed a total of 5.8 million tourists, marking a significant 14.3 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, domestic visitors outnumbered international ones.

The total number of nights spent by tourists in various accommodations totaled 13.8 million, indicating a robust 14.5 percent surge compared to the same period last year. These insights stem from the latest data unveiled by the Czech Statistical Office (CSO).

Out of the visitors, there were 3.2 million domestic travelers and 2.5 million from foreign lands. Domestic guest numbers witnessed a growth of four percent, while foreign sojourners registered a remarkable 31 percent uptick compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, the foreign tourists’ overnight stays in the Czech Republic fell slightly short of the figures recorded in 2019.

Roman Mikula, spokesperson for the Tourism and Environment Statistics Department at the Czech Statistical Office, emphasized, “Accommodation establishments in the second quarter of this year have nearly reached the pre-pandemic performance level. The overall overnight stays almost matched those of 2019. However, we haven’t fully attained the pre-epidemic peak, currently standing at 98 percent.”

Jiří Fontana, Director of Business Strategy at OREA Hotels & Resorts, added, “We’re observing heightened demand for our services during the same period, even surpassing the pre-peak year of 2019. Both our occupancy rates and the number of returning guests are on the rise.”

Hotels hosted 71 percent of tourists, marking a substantial 17.1 percent growth. Guesthouses saw a 13 percent influx, signifying a 9.3 percent increase year-on-year.

The largest influx of visitors to the Czech Republic originated from Germany, constituting a quarter of the foreign clientele, with approximately 637,000 tourists exploring the country. Visitors from Slovakia ranked second, followed by Polish guests. The CSO’s findings indicate that the decline in tourists from Asian countries and Russia persists.