Czech Tourism Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Czechia accommodated 10.9 million international tourists in hotels and other collective establishments in 2025, an increase of 4% from the previous year and 0.1% above the 2019 level. The sector has recovered its pre-pandemic visitor volume and increased its economic contribution, but growth remains uneven: a large share of foreign demand is concentrated in Prague, average stays remain short, and regional expansion depends on transport, labour and more detailed tourism data.

International arrivals move above the 2019 level

International guests at commercial accommodation establishments reached 10.9 million in 2025. The total increased by 4% and moved marginally above the pre-pandemic benchmark, exceeding 2019 by just 0.1%. Germany remained the largest inbound market with a 21% share. Slovakia and Poland each accounted for another 8%, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s latest review of tourism trends and policies.

Domestic demand also expanded. Czech residents accounted for 12.6 million overnight visitors, 2.5% more than in 2024. Almost 23.6 million guests stayed in collective accommodation establishments in total and generated 59.1 million nights, equivalent to an average of about 2.5 nights per registered guest.

These figures cover registered hotels, guesthouses, campsites and other collective establishments. They do not fully capture day visitors, stays with relatives, privately owned holiday homes or all short-term rentals booked through digital platforms. The real number of tourism journeys is therefore higher than the accommodation count.

Tourism contributes CZK 201.6 billion

Tourism directly generated CZK 201.6 billion for the Czech economy in 2024. This represented a 10.7% increase from CZK 182.2 billion in 2023. Its direct share of gross domestic product rose from 2.4% to 2.5%.

The sector directly employed about 233,400 people, or 4.3% of total employment. Tourism employment increased by 2.6% during the year. Travel represented 21.4% of total service exports, up 1.8 percentage points from 2023. The industry is therefore more significant for employment and services trade than its share of gross domestic product alone suggests.

The gap between the employment and output shares reflects the labour-intensive nature of tourism. Hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions, travel businesses and passenger transport require large workforces. Higher revenue does not necessarily create a corresponding productivity increase, particularly among small businesses with seasonal demand.

Revenue recovers faster than visitor volume

The tourism economy recovered faster than international visitor numbers. Its direct contribution grew by 10.7% in 2024 even though foreign accommodation demand had not yet returned to its 2019 level. Higher accommodation, food, transport and experience prices contributed to the increase, alongside changes in the visitor mix.

International travellers accounted for 57% of tourism expenditure in 2023. The report does not provide a more recent split between domestic and international consumption, creating a timing gap: the arrival figures extend to 2025, while the expenditure structure reflects an earlier year.

Nominal growth in tourism gross domestic product is also not the same as an increase in the physical volume of services. Inflation and higher prices explain part of the gain. A complete assessment requires overnight stays, trip duration, accommodation occupancy and inflation-adjusted spending per visitor.

Prague accommodates about one-third of all guests

Prague received almost 8.3 million tourists in 2025. Compared with the national total of 23.6 million, the capital accounted for approximately 35% of all guests registered at collective accommodation establishments. The calculation demonstrates the concentration of demand, although accommodation structures differ between Prague, spa destinations, rural areas and campsites.

The average stay in Prague was about 2.3 nights. The average hotel room rate approached €123 a night, rising to around €170 in the city centre. Luxury accommodation averaged €241, while premium hotel rooms reached approximately €314 during December. Prague City Tourism linked the trend to stronger demand for quality accommodation, gastronomy and cultural experiences.

Higher hotel prices increase business revenue and local tax receipts, but short trips limit spending beyond accommodation. A visitor staying for two nights is less likely to explore outer districts or add another Czech region than a traveller following a week-long itinerary.

Germany remains the dominant source market

Germany supplies more than one-fifth of international guests. Geographic proximity and strong road and rail connections support stable demand but also expose the sector to economic conditions in a single neighbouring country.

Slovakia and Poland follow with shares of 8% each. Neighbouring markets provide repeat travel and support regional destinations. These visitors may enter Czechia several times a year, although average stays and expenditure can be lower than among long-haul guests.

German arrivals declined by 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, while their overnight stays fell by 2.3%. Total foreign demand still expanded because of growth from other markets. Israel recorded the strongest annual increase among individual source countries during the quarter.

This explains Czechia’s effort to diversify demand. Reliance on Germany is beneficial during stable growth but becomes a vulnerability when the German economy weakens or travel consumption changes.

Czechia targets new long-haul air connections

The national strategy supports direct air routes and promotion in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. South Korea, Chinese Taipei and China are among the markets identified for air-access and marketing initiatives involving Prague Airport, national and city tourism bodies, and airline partners.

Long-haul visitors are attractive because their trips are generally longer and their potential expenditure is higher. Travellers crossing several thousand kilometres are more likely to combine Prague with spa towns, cultural sites and other Czech regions.

New routes nevertheless require sustained demand in both directions. Opening a service does not guarantee that it will remain commercially viable. Results depend on fares, entry conditions, airline capacity, marketing and Czech demand for outbound seats.

The state allocated CZK 1.5 billion to tourism

The national tourism budget was CZK 1.5 billion in 2025, including CZK 402.8 million for CzechTourism. European Union funds provide additional infrastructure support, while municipalities collect local accommodation taxes and determine how the proceeds are spent.

CzechTourism operates 15 foreign offices covering more than 40 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Each of the 14 Czech regions has a tourism co-ordinator connecting national marketing with local destination management organisations.

The decentralised structure allows regional priorities to be reflected, but it also creates a risk of fragmented funding and overlapping promotion. Effective governance depends on common performance indicators, information sharing and the capacity of smaller destination organisations to work internationally.

The new plan prioritises data and regional development

The government approved its tourism action plan for 2026–2027 in October 2025. It contains five major measures, 11 activities and 23 sub-activities covering air access, destination governance, workforce development, research, marketing and business events. The Ministry for Regional Development expects the plan to improve the business environment and make tourism more accessible to different groups.

Approximately CZK 1.2 billion a year is expected to support implementation. A significant share is allocated to research, tourism satellite accounts, demand analysis and digital tools. A tourism satellite account is a statistical framework that identifies tourism’s contribution within transport, retail, accommodation, food services and other industries.

All 14 regions are expected to implement strategies aligned with national objectives. Priority products include cultural heritage, nature, spa tourism, sustainable travel, meetings and industrial and architectural attractions.

Mobile data will track actual visitor movement

In 2025, Czechia integrated anonymised information from its two largest mobile network operators after a pilot project in 2024. These data can estimate visitor movements, seasonal patterns, time spent in destinations and journeys between regions.

Authorities are also developing tools to combine payment-card information, booking systems, travel platforms and online reviews. These sources are intended to complement hotel statistics, which do not capture day visits and all private accommodation.

The wider data system also creates methodological risks. Mobile operators, banks and platforms cover different populations and may produce double counting. Regional comparisons will be credible only if the country applies common processing rules and publishes clear methodology.

Recovery has not eliminated the regional gap

National accommodation indicators increased across the regions, but international guests continue to favour Prague. Outside the capital, South Moravia and the Karlovy Vary Region receive the largest numbers of foreign visitors.

Domestic tourists are distributed more widely and support mountain areas, lakes, campsites and smaller guesthouses. Czech residents generated 32.4 million accommodation nights in 2025, compared with 26.8 million nights from international guests.

Domestic travel is therefore the larger source of accommodation demand by nights, while international visitors account for the majority of tourism expenditure. Regional policy must retain Czech travellers while creating products capable of bringing international spending outside Prague.

Short trips limit regional economic benefits

With 23.6 million guests and 59.1 million nights, the average registered stay is about 2.5 nights. Prague’s average is even shorter at approximately 2.3 nights. Short trips increase pressure on transport and historic centres while restricting the geographic distribution of expenditure.

Czechia needs to encourage visitors to combine Prague with Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov, Brno, Olomouc, Moravian wine regions and natural destinations. This requires convenient rail connections, clear visitor information, integrated booking and co-ordinated promotion.

Increasing overnight stays may generate more value than another arrival record. One additional night creates demand for accommodation, food, transport and cultural services without requiring another visitor or adding equivalent pressure to the country’s busiest attractions.

As International Investment experts report, the return of international arrivals to the 2019 level completes the quantitative stage of recovery but does not resolve Czech tourism’s structural weaknesses. The pre-pandemic benchmark was exceeded by only 0.1%, the average trip remains short, and Prague accommodates about one-third of all registered guests. Higher prices support nominal sector growth but do not guarantee comparable gains in productivity or regional income. The next phase should be measured through length of stay, spending outside the capital and the share of tourism revenue retained by local businesses rather than visitor numbers alone.

FAQ about tourism in Czechia

How many international tourists visited Czechia in 2025?

Commercial accommodation establishments registered 10.9 million international guests, an increase of 4% from 2024 and 0.1% above the 2019 level.

How many tourists stayed in Czechia in total?

Hotels and other collective accommodation establishments received almost 23.6 million guests in 2025. They generated 59.1 million overnight stays.

How much does tourism contribute to the Czech economy?

The sector directly contributed CZK 201.6 billion, or 2.5% of gross domestic product, in 2024. It directly employed about 233,400 people.

Which countries send the most tourists?

Germany is the largest market, accounting for around 21% of international accommodation guests. Slovakia and Poland each contribute about 8%.

How many tourists visit Prague?

Prague accommodated almost 8.3 million visitors in 2025, equivalent to approximately 35% of the national collective-accommodation total.

How long do tourists stay in Czechia?

The average registered stay was about 2.5 nights. Visitors to Prague stayed for approximately 2.3 nights on average.

What are the priorities of Czechia’s tourism strategy?

The strategy focuses on sustainable regional tourism, service quality, direct air connections, workforce training and the use of mobile, payment and accommodation data to manage visitor demand.