Tourism Trends in Prague in 3Q 2014
Summary:
 Total guests: 1,850,048
Non-residents: 1,658,693 (89.7%)
Domestics: 191,355 (10.3%)
 Total rise in guest numbers in Prague +4.8%
Foreign guests up +6.1%
Visitor numbers from CZ fell -5.7%
 Source markets: Germany, USA, Russia
 A total 62% of all guests came from Europe
 Top 10 countries provide 58.1% of all arrivals
 Greatest gains: China, Poland and Slovakia
 Total nights: 4,535,144
Non-residents: 4,173,880 (92%)
Domestics: 361,264 (8%)
 Average length of stay: 2.5 nights
Non-residents: 2.5 nights; Residents: 1.9 nights
 Guests from Russia stayed in Prague the longest – an average of 3.7 nights
 The net occupancy rate (NOR) at hotels was 64.7% for bed-places and 74.9%
for rooms
Five-star hotels had the highest occupancy rates – 72% for bed-places and
74.9% rooms
Visits
During 3Q 2014 there were a total of 1,850,048 overnight trips to Prague. Of this
number, 191,355 (10.3%) were domestic overnight trips and 1,658,693 (89.7%) inbound
visits.
In a year-on-year comparison of 3Q 2014 and 3Q 2013, guest numbers increased by 4.8%
or 84,048 visitors.
Whereas 6.1% more non-residents came to Prague in the period, resident numbers fell
by 5.7%.
In absolute numbers, this means inbound visits rose by 95,565, while domestic guests
fell by 11,517. August was the strongest month in terms of total visitor numbers in 3Q.
Visitor numbers continuously rose throughout the quarter, but this increase was solely due to
the rising number of non-resident guests.
Number of guests in collective accommodation establishments in Prague – 3Q 2014:
Month
Number of guests
Growth
Growth (%)
July
604,499
+32,333
+5.7
August
654,452
+31,375
+5.0
September
591,097
+20,340
+3.6
1,850,048
+84,048
+4.8
3Q 2014
Nights
The total number of nights in accommodation establishments in Prague reached 4,535,144
in 3Q 2014. Compared to figures from one year ago, this is a 2.5% rise in nights – exactly
110,536 nights.
While the number of nights spent in Prague by non-residents increased by 3.9%
(+157,823 nights), the total for residents declined by 11.6% (-47,287 nights).
Non-resident visitors to Prague accounted for 92% of all nights in the city.
The number of nights by non-residents totalled 4,173,880, while the total for residents
was 361,264 (8%).
Number of overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
3Q 2014:
Month
July
Number of
overnight stays
1,478,124
Growth
Growth (%)
28,481
2.0
August
1,639,731
56,168
3.5
September
1,417,289
25,887
1.9
3Q 2014
4,535,144
110,536
2.5
The average length of stay fell slightly (-0.1 nights).
Total: 2.5 nights
Non-residents: 2.5 nights
Residents: 1.9 nights
1. Residents
Number of residents in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
3Q 2014:
Month
July
Number of
residents
56,595
Decline
Decline (%)
-3,354
-5.6
August
60,938
-794
-1.3
September
73,822
-7,369
-9.1
191,355
-11,517
-5.7
3Q 2014
Number of overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
3Q 2014:
Month
July
Number of
overnight stays
110,602
Decline
Decline (%)
-15,122
-12.0
August
119,829
-7,250
-5.7
September
130,833
-24,915
-16.0
3Q 2014
361,264
-47,287
-11.6
2. Non-residents
Number of non-residents in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
3Q 2014:
Month
July
Number of
non-residents
547,904
Growth
Growth (%)
35,687
7.0
August
593,514
32,169
5.7
September
517,275
27,709
5.7
1,658,693
95,565
6.1
3Q 2014
Source markets
In terms of citizenship, visitors from Germany remained in the lead in 3Q 2014, followed by
the United States and Russia.
Top 10 markets with the highest total visits – 3Q 2014:
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Country
Germany
USA
Russia
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Poland
Slovakia
France
China
Number of guests
213,420
143,023
115,725
93,503
80,625
74,486
65,043
61,754
58,016
57,587
As in previous quarters, visitors from Europe accounted for the greatest number of
inbound guests (62.2%), followed by Asia (13.9%). Russian visitor numbers fell one
percentage point year-on-year to 7%, while Asian visitors increased by 1.5%. Fluctuations in
other categories are only minor.
Absolute growth in inbound tourism to Prague
Visitors from China were the fastest-growing inbound visitor segment, the Czech
Statistical Office (CSO) reported. Tourism from China rose 39.4% to reach 16,285 visitors.
Visitors from neighbouring countries (Poland, Slovakia and Germany) also enjoyed
remarkable growth. The previous quarter’s positive trend in visitor numbers from Spain
continued into 3Q.
Overall, inbound tourism from Europe experienced the greatest growth with 51,930 visitors,
followed by Asia with 35,300 visitors.
The greatest decline was reported for tourism from Russia, with 13,491 fewer visitors
(-10.4%). In recent months a number of Russian travel agencies have gone out of business
due to the crashing Russian rouble.
French and Ukrainian visitor numbers continued to dwindle, and the CSO also reported
negative trends for inbound tourism from Scandinavia and Japan.
Fastest-growing markets by volume compared to 3Q 2013:
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Country
China
Poland
Slovakia
USA
Republic of Korea
Netherlands
Germany
Growth
Growth (%)
16,285
10,227
9,889
9,561
9,531
8,155
6,888
39.4
18.7
19.1
7.2
26.6
23.0
3.3
The greatest losses in inbound guests compared to 3Q 2013 are from the following
countries:
Place
Country
1
Russia
Decline
-13,491
Decline (%)
-10.4
2
France
-6,605
-10.2
3
Ukraine
-4,137
-17.2
4
Norway
-3,451
-16.5
5
Japan
-2,176
-6.8
6
Sweden
-1,931
-6.5
7
Denmark
-1,929
-7.3
Top markets by total nights:
Number of overnight
stays
Place
Country
1
Germany
509.917
2
Russia
432.786
3
USA
343.774
4
Italy
233.203
5
United Kingdom
226.801
6
Spain
205.495
7
France
150.196
8
Poland
132.097
9
Slovakia
123.376
10
OtherAsianCountries*
118.349
*Note: “Other Asian Countries” do not include China, India, Israel, Japan or South Korea, which are tracked
separately by the Czech Statistical Office.
Europeans accounted for 61.2% of all nights by non-resident visitors. Russians comprise just
7% of all guests, but because they tend to stay longer, a full 10.4% of nights in Prague are
spent by Russians. On the other end of the scale, Asians comprise 13.9% of guests but just
12% of nights due to their shorter stays.
Tourism in Prague compared to national trends
The Czech Republic as a whole registered 5,447,514 overnight trips in 3Q 2014, up
104,617 year-on-year (+2%).
As regards the country as a whole, the trend was positive for the main tourism season, but
still lagged behind Prague (Prague +4.8%).
Nationwide, the number of resident visitors stagnated, while non-resident visitors rose by
104,969 (+4.2%).
With 1,850,048 trips, Prague accounted for 34% of all overnight trips in the Czech
Republic. Prague is the most popular destination in the country.
Prague was the destination for as many as 63.7% of incoming guests,
but just 6.7% of resident guests. South Moravian and South Bohemian Regions are the
leading summertime destinations for Czechs.
Total nights in accommodation establishments throughout the Czech Republic reached
15,841,344 in 3Q 2014.
Based on data from the Czech Statistical Office published on 7 November 2014