"Already now we can say that 2003 became a turning point for the National Tourist Authority of the Czech Republic," says Natalya Makovik, PR manager of CzechTourism. "First, ten years have passed since the first day of our work on the Czech and foreign tourist market. Second, we entered the new decade with a new concept of promoting the Czech Republic abroad and with several new foreign offices. The National Tourist Authority of the Czech Republic was established in 1993 as a non-profit organization, the main goal of which was to promote the Czech Republic abroad. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Czech Republic. Since September 1, 2003, the official name of our organization has been CzechTourism."
As part of its mission, CzechTourism creates an ongoing and up-to-date strategy for presenting the Czech Republic abroad. The main focus of our activity is comprehensive support for the national tourist product. Based on long-term research, CzechTourism has concentrated its work in those countries from which the largest inflow of tourists comes. From 1993 to 2002, 13 offices were opened: in Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Germany, Spain, the USA, and the United Kingdom. In 2003, they were joined by offices in Finland, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Uzbekistan, and in the near future our office will open in Poland. In 2004, we plan to create such an office in Ukraine as well.
As practice shows, 76% of tourists come from the countries where our offices were opened. Once their task was only to popularize Czech sights. Today it is a whole range of services for monitoring demand and supply on the Czech tourist market, organizing press conferences, broad cooperation with the media, presenting the Czech Republic at exhibitions and fairs, and acting as an intermediary between Czech tour operators and local tourist companies. We are always happy to offer our guests something new that will help reveal a new facet of the enchanting Czech Republic.
So what awaits guests of the Czech Republic in 2004? To make the presentation of the Czech Republic even more effective, CzechTourism proposed a new concept of "Czech wanderings" for 2004. The activities of both tour operators and information support services are mainly focused on five main areas: "The Charm of Castles, Palaces, and Historical Sites," "Golden Prague (in three aspects: historical, cultural, and for youth)," "Active and Healthy Recreation," "Resorts - a Place for Rest and Entertainment," and "Church Monuments and Places of Worship."
Tours "Through the Castles of the Czech Republic" are one of the highlights of the Czech tourist market. The country has about two thousand palaces and castles. The Czech Republic has 12 monuments inscribed on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. Having returned to their former owners after restitution, the castles are now experiencing a kind of renaissance: after restoration, they are equipped with all modern conveniences and at the same time carefully preserve the spirit of old times. You can order a solemn wedding ceremony in a palace, a gala dinner by candlelight with fireworks, a costume ball, or a honeymoon in the count's bedchamber. In local taverns, a colorful "robber's feast" awaits you - with a fight of robbers, a search for a treasure chest, and dances of Gypsy women on the tables. You will be offered to eat food prepared according to ancient recipes with your hands. For tourists who prefer noble entertainment, a real knightly tournament is available. Modern ladies and gentlemen dressed in medieval robes will be spectators of a duel with swords and axes.
New offerings include inexpensive youth tours. Taking into account financial capabilities, Czech tour operators select accommodation options, organize walking and cycling excursions, and visits to pop and rock concerts.
Fans of active tourism will be offered to visit the famous Czech Switzerland - this unique island of untouched nature in the very center of Europe. Since January 1, 2000, Czech Switzerland has been declared a national park. Many wonderful tourist routes connecting unique natural and historical monuments, combined with an abundance of cozy and inexpensive hotels and pensions, attract more and more tourists. The winding passage of the Elbe Valley is one of the most picturesque places in Europe. Its beauty is eloquently evidenced by a historical fact: a hundred years ago, Archduke Ferdinand sent his court photographer here to photograph the fantastic sandstone arch "Pravčická brána" and the ancient castle "Falcon's Nest" for a collection of photographs of the most famous places of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
All the representatives of Czech tourist companies present at the meeting consider the commitment of our tourists only to Karlovy Vary to be an unforgivable mistake. Today the Czech Republic is rightly proud of its resorts. A centuries-old tradition, 36 resort towns, several hundred healing springs, and rich deposits of therapeutic mud - all this has turned the Czech Republic into a true resort empire. In 2004, it was decided to move to more active informing of foreign tourists about such gems of health tourism as Mariánské Lázně, Františkovy Lázně, Teplice, Jáchymov, Třeboň, and others.
And, finally, among the most promising areas of tourism in the Czech Republic are religious pilgrimages. These routes are often developed by Czech tour operators together with governmental or religious organizations of other countries. For example, in 2003, the government of Israel allocated funds for the development of tourist routes dedicated to Jewish religious monuments and Jewish cultural heritage in the Czech Republic. The majority of church monuments in the Czech Republic testifies to the centuries-long rule of the Roman Catholic Church here. However, due to the paradoxical mentality of Czech citizens, all confessions peacefully coexist in the country. Majestic churches welcome both Catholics and Orthodox under their arches: one Sunday a Catholic mass takes place there, the next an Orthodox service... Truly, this is only possible in the Czech Republic.
Magical Czech Republic will always find something to surprise and delight its guests. And in 2004 we will be convinced of this yet again!