Tourism Trends in Prague in 2Q 2014
Summary:
 Total guests: 1,590,310
non-resident: 1,391,469 (87.5%)
domestic: 198,841 (12.5%)
 Slight 0.9% decline in overnight trips to Prague
Inbound visits edge up by 0.4%
Visitor numbers from CZ down 10%
 Main negative factors associated with the decline in visitor numbers:
Russian-Ukranian crisis
Ongoing economic problems in France
 Source markets: Germany, Russia, USA
 Nearly 65% of all visitors arrive from Europe
 Top 10 countries provide 53% of all arrivals
 Greatest gains: Germany, China and Poland
 After a long hiatus, Spanish visitors increase
 Total nights: 3,878,923
non-resident: 3,520,678 (91%)
domestic: 358,245 (9%)
 Average length of stay: 2.4 nights
Non-residents: 2.5 nights; Residents: 1.8 nights
 Guests from Russia stayed in Prague the longest – an average of four nights
 The net occupancy rate (NOR) at hotels was 59.2% for bed-places and 72.1%
for rooms
Five-star hotels had the highest occupancy rates – 64.7% for bed-places and
76.5% rooms
Visits
During 2Q 2014 there were a total of 1,590,310 overnight trips to Prague. Of this
number, 198,841 (12.5%) were domestic overnight trips and 1,391,469 (87.5%) inbound
visits.
In a year-on-year comparison of 2Q 2014 and 2Q 2013, guest numbers fell by 0.9% or
14,229 visitors.
Whereas the number of resident guests dropped by 20,322 visitors (9.3%), non-resident
overnight trips increased slightly by 6,093 (0.4%). This came in spite of the fact that
tension between Russia and the European Union and United States has had a negative
impact on tourism and the falling rouble dramatically increased the cost of travel to the Czech
Republic.
May was the strongest month in the second quarter, even though guest numbers in all
three months were nearly the same.
Number of guests in collective accommodation establishments in Prague – 2Q 2014:
Month
Number of guests
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
April
517,674
+18,007
+3.6
May
547,678
-47,481
-8.0
June
524,958
+15,245
+3.0
1,590,310
-14,229
-0.9
2Q 2014
Nights
The total number of nights in accommodation establishments in Prague reached 3,878,923
in 2Q 2014, which is down 103,464 nights (-2,6%) year-on-year.
The decline in the number of nights was reflected in both domestic and non-resident
visitors to Prague.
It was caused by the negative trend in May, when the total number of nights plummeted
nearly ten percent. Russia accounted for half of the May decline.
Non-resident visitors to Prague accounted for 90.8% of all nights in the city.
The number of nights by non-residents totalled 3,520,678, while the total for residents
was 358,245.
Number of overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
2Q 2014:
Month
Number of
overnight stays
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
April
1,286,982
+21,982
+1.7
May
1,341,620
-144,161
-9.7
June
+18,715
1,250,321
2Q 2014
3,878,923
-103,464
The average length of stay fell slightly (-0.1 nights) in the overall and non-resident
categories, and remained unchanged for residents.
Total: 2.4 nights
Non-residents: 2.5 nights
Residents: 1.8 nights
1. Residents
+1.5
-2.6
Number of residents in collective accommodation establishments in Prague – 2Q
2014:
Month
April
Number of
residents
67,301
Decline
Decline (%)
-5,355
-7.4
May
67,231
-9,857
-12.8
June
64,309
-5,110
-7.4
198,841
-20,322
-9.3
2Q 2014
Number of overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments in Prague –
2Q 2014:
Month
Number of
overnight stays
Decline
Decline (%)
April
116,592
-23,156
-16.6
May
122,975
-19,633
-13.8
June
118,678
358,245
-12,151
-9.3
-54,940
-13.3
2Q 2014
2. Non-residents
Number of non-residents in collective accommodation establishments in Prague – 2Q
2014:
Month
April
Number of
non-residents
450,373
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
+23,362
+5.5
May
480,447
-37,624
-7.3
June
460,649
+20,355
+4.6
1,391,469
+6,093
+0.4
2Q 2014
Source markets
Broken down by nationality, most visitors in the second quarter of 2014 arrived from
Germany, with Russia and distant second. The third most numerous group was from the
United States.
In this regard, nothing has changed compared to the previous two years.
Russia retained its second-place position despite the relatively considerable decline in guest
numbers in April and May, which is a consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Although the Germans celebrated Easter in Prague, May was marked by a decline in the
number of German visitors, with numbers recovering in June. Overall there was a quite
significant, nearly ten-percent increase in guest numbers.
Except in June, U.S. visitor numbers experienced a slight decline.
Top 10 markets with the highest total visits – 2nd quarter 2014:
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Country
Germany
Russia
USA
United Kingdom
Italy
France
Poland
Slovakia
Other Asian
Countries*
Spain
Number of guests
201,399
119,129
109,919
78,614
76,469
63,648
53,552
52,021
46,287
39,642
*Note: “Other Asian Countries” do not include China, India, Israel, Japan or South Korea, which are tracked
separately by the Czech Statistical Office.
The composition and ranking of the Top 10 source markets remains the same as last year.
Only Poland and Slovakia have switched places, but the difference in visitor numbers is
negligible.
As in the last quarter, visitors from France continued to decrease. Other European cities are
also experiencing a decline in French tourist numbers.
There were also fewer Italians and Britons arriving in the city compared to the same period
last year.
In contrast, after a long decline, Prague and other cities are starting to see an increase in
Spanish tourists.
Of the other countries, rising interest among visitors from Ireland, Austria, China, Israel and
South Korea is worthy of note.
Outside the Top 10, the Czech Statistical Office recorded large declines in visitors from
Ukraine, Japan and South America (especially Brazil). In all cases these were continuing
negative trends that started in the first quarter.
The following graph shows that in comparison to 2Q 2013, the percentage of European and
Asian visitors out of all overnight trips has increased, while Russian and South American
visitors have dwindled.
In absolute terms, the number of European and Asian overnight trips has risen year-on-year,
while Russian and South American visitors have fallen and North American, African and
Australian visitors have stagnated.
Absolute growth in inbound tourism to Prague
Prague experienced a very slight, 0.4% (6,093) year-on-year increase in the number of nonresident visitors.
Fastest growing markets by volume compared to 2Q 2013:
Country
1. Germany
2. China
3. Other
European
Countries*
4. Poland
5. Austria
6. Republic of
Korea
7. Israel
Growth
Growth (%)
17,012
7,957
5,387
9.2
26.9
21.9
4,564
3,941
9.3
13.0
15.4
3,783
3,649
17.4
*Note: “Other European Countries” includes European countries that are not individually monitored by the Czech
Statistical Office.
The greatest declines in guest numbers can be seen for Russia, Ukraine and France.
The consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis are the reason behind the numbers for
Russia and Ukraine.
The ongoing economic crisis in France, with the French saving money in the face of falling
incomes, is reflected in the behaviour of French visitors. According to French polls by IPSOS
and Coach Omnium, it is not only the middle class that has been limiting or entirely forsaking
their holidays.
The greatest losses in inbound guests compared to 2Q 2013 are from the following
countries:
Country
1. Russia
2. Ukraine
3. France
4. United
Kingdom
5. Japan
6. Italy
7. Brazil
Decline
-23,179
-10,650
-6,469
Decline (%)
-16.3
-37.6
-9.2
-4.2
-3,463
-3,184
-2,694
-2,494
-12.3
-3.4
-14.2
Top markets by total nights:
Place
Country
Number of overnight
stays
1
Russia
482,082
2
Germany
473,078
3
USA
272,074
4
Italy
212,559
5
United Kingdom
189,748
6
France
162,854
7
Spain
106,398
8
Poland
102,241
97,442
9
10
Other Asian
Countries
Slovakia
96,383
*Note: “Other Asian Countries” do not include China, India, Israel, Japan or South Korea, which are tracked
separately by the Czech Statistical Office.
Tourism in Prague compared to national trends
The Czech Republic as a whole registered 4,004,961 overnight trips in 2Q 2014, up 70,184
year-on-year (+1.8%). This result was achieved due to the increased number of arrivals by
non-residents; residents slightly cut down on their domestic travels.
The trend for the country as a whole is somewhat more positive than for Prague
(Prague: -0.9%).
Overnight trips throughout the Czech Republic spent by residents was 1,800,342,
down -0,1% (-2,416 person).
Trips by non-residents totalled 2,204,619, up 3.4% (+72,600 trips).
With 1,590,310 trips, Prague accounted for 39.7% of all overnight trips in the Czech
Republic.
At the regional level, nine of the Czech Republic's fourteen regions saw visitor numbers
increase.
Most visitors arrived in the Czech Republic from Germany, Russia and Slovakia.
Total nights in accommodation establishments throughout the Czech Republic reached
10,497,082 in 2Q 2014, which is 36,704 (0.4%) more nights than in 2Q 2013.
Based on data from the Czech Statistical Office published on 7 August 2014