The greatest decline, according to the analytical agency Mag Consulting, was recorded in resort centers - up to 20%. Despite this, experts believe that about five million tourists will visit the Czech Republic this year, or 3% more than last year.
Most often students and pensioners come, rather than middle-aged people, who traditionally spend more on travel than others, says agency representative Jaromir Beranek. This has the greatest impact on the profits of high-category hotels. For a long time, Germans have made up the bulk of foreign tourists, with Poles in second place. Then come Italians and the British. But according to Jaromir Beranek, Germans do not leave as much money in Czechia as Russians. And the reason for this is not at all the economic situation of the countries, but rather the qualitative composition of tourists.
The number of tourists from the CIS is growing every year. Three years ago, Russia was not among the top fifteen countries, but by 2002 it had already taken twelfth place. However, Russians do not travel to the Czech Republic evenly throughout the year - most of them come, as a rule, during the May holidays. The occupancy of Prague hotels from three to five stars is about 60%, and nationwide - 47%. Travel agencies look to the future with optimism. Tomas Brejcha, a representative of the company Cedok, notes a noticeable upturn in business after the end of the Iraqi conflict.