Tourism Trends in Prague in 1Q 2014
Visits
During 1Q 2014 there were a total of 1,033,123 overnight trips to Prague. Of this
number, 182,136 (17.6%) were domestic overnight trips and 850,987 (82.4%) inbound
visits.
A year-on-year comparison of the data clearly shows a slight decline in trips to the Czech
capital, down 3.9% (-42,181 visits) from 1Q 2013.
In absolute terms, domestic and inbound visits were almost equally responsible for the
reduction; in percentage terms, however, the drop in domestic trips was far more dramatic.
There were 21,687 fewer domestic trips (-10.6%), while inbound visits fell by 20,494 (2.4%).
March was the strongest month in 1Q 2014 in terms of total visits. The third month of the
year was just as popular with inbound travellers as with domestic visitors.
The lowest level of interest in visiting Prague was registered in February.
Number of guests in collective accommodation establishments in Capital Prague – 1Q
2014:
Month
Number of guests
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
January
312,291
13,305
+4.5
February
288,258
-1,803
-0.6
March
432,574
-53,683
-11.0
1,033,123
-42,181
-3.9
Q1 2014
Nights
The total number of nights spent in accommodation establishments in Prague reached
2,586,431 in 1Q 2014.
A comparison of the data between 1Q 2014 and 1Q 2013 shows a year-on-year decline in
nights by 165,440 (-6%). Again, in absolute terms there is not much of a difference between
domestic and inbound guests, but in percentage terms the year-on-year fall is quite dramatic
at -18.7%.
The overwhelming majority of all nights were spent by non-residents – exactly 2,265,547
nights (87.6%) – while residents spent just 320,884 (12.4%) nights in the city.
Number of nights in accommodation establishments in the City of Prague – 1Q 2014:
Month
Number of nights
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
January
824,346
+9,877
+1.2
February
679,148
-23,764
-3.4
1,082,937
-151,553
-12.3
2,586,431
-165,440
-6.0
March
Q1 2014
The average length of an overnight trip to the city fell slightly, down 0.1 nights.
Total: 2.5 nights
Non-residents: 2.7 nights
Residents: 1.8 nights
1. Residents
Number of resident guests in accommodation establishments in the City of Prague –
1Q 2014:
Month
January
Number of resident
guests
55,407
Decline
Decline (%)
-4,992
-8.3
February
55,877
-8,196
-12.8
March
70,852
-8,499
-10.7
182,136
-21,687
-10.6
Q1 2014
Number of overnight stays by residents in collective accommodation establishments
in the City of Prague – 1Q 2014:
Number of
overnight stays
Month
Decline
Decline (%)
January
96,755
-19,416
-16.7
February
98,818
-22,733
-18.7
125,311
-31,465
-20.1
320,884
-73,614
-18.7
March
Q1 2014
2. Non-residents
Number of non-resident guests in collective accommodation establishments in the
City of Prague – 1Q 2014:
Number of
non-resident
guests
256,884
Month
January
Growth/Decline
Growth/Decline (%)
+18,297
+7.7
February
232,381
+6,393
+2.8
March
361,722
-45,184
-11.1
Q1 2014
850,987
-20,494
-2.4
Source markets
In terms of citizenship, the greatest number of guests in 1Q 2014 were from Russia. Nearly
half of their visits were made in January, reflecting the Orthodox Christmas and New Year
holidays as in past years.
Germany placed second, followed by Italy in third place.
March was marked by a fall in numbers of both Russian and German visitors. Whereas the
German decline can be explained by the late Easter holiday in April, among Russians the
main reason likely lies in the real decline in demand for foreign travel caused by the
destabilised Russian economy and falling rouble.
Top 10 markets with the highest total visits – 1Q 2014:
Place
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Country
Russia
Germany
Italy
United Kingdom
Slovakia
France
USA
Number of guests
127,098
109,032
69,029
62,678
40,245
37,894
37,282
8
9
10
Poland
Other Asian countries*
Austria
25,840
24,465
19,440
*Note: “Other Asian countries” do not include China, India, Israel, Japan or South Korea, which are tracked
separately by the Czech Statistical Office.
A comparison of the same periods in 2012 and 2013 shows that the structure of the top ten
countries has remained stable. The top four places are completely unchanged. Slovakia
moved up one place (caused by the relatively steep decline in travellers from France, which
has also been registered in nearby European cities), while Poland jumped two spots (here
the move up is also supported by an actual increase in guest numbers). Spain entirely
dropped out of the top ten (the country’s struggling economy has spurred a long-term decline
in tourist numbers), while Austria made its debut among the strongest source markets in 1Q.
Visitor numbers from South Korea and China continue to be on the rise, while numbers for
Japanese and Israeli guests are currently falling.
Non-residents from South America also experienced a decline in 1Q.
The percentage of visitors from Europe in the overall number of inbound visitors is continuing
to slowly wane, while the percentage of Russians rose slightly and visitors from Asia in 1Q
increased by 1%.
In absolute terms, only visitor numbers from Russia and Asia rose; inbound visitors from all
other parts of the world fell.
Absolute growth in inbound tourism to Prague
In 1Q 2014 there was a slight year-on-year decline in the number of inbound visits, with
20,494 fewer guests coming to the city (down 2.4%).
Fastest growing markets by volume compared to 1st Q 2013:
Country
1. Republic of
Korea
2. Poland
3. Finland
4. Other Asian
Countries
5. Other
European
countries
6. Serbia and
Montenegro
7. Ireland
Growth
Growth (%)
+60.8
6,686
4,140
2,404
+19.1
+42.6
+10.7
2,368
+11.4
1,813
+27.6
1,145
1,033
+19.5
*Note: “Other European countries” includes European countries that are not individually monitored by the Czech
Statistical Office.
The greatest losses in inbound guests compared to 1Q 2013 are from the following
countries:
Country
1. Denmark
2. France
3. Spain
4. Germany
5. Israel
Decline
-8,359
-7,674
-6,709
-3,983
-2,739
Decline (%)
-48.2
-16.8
-26.7
-3.5
-18.7
Top markets by total nights:
Place
Country
Number of overnight
stays
1
Russia
547,430
2
Germany
248,547
3
Italy
198,028
4
United Kingdom
154,858
5
France
96,445
6
USA
91,551
7
Slovakia
76,814
8
Other Asian countries
53,976
9
Poland
50,608
10
Other European
countries
49,627
Tourism in Prague compared to national trends
The Czech Republic as a whole registered 2,871,139 overnight trips in 1Q 2014, down by
25,700 guests year-on-year (-0.9%). However, the decline solely affected the category for
domestic residents. In contrast, inbound guest numbers rose slightly.
The trend for the country as a whole is somewhat more positive than for Prague (Prague: 3.9%).
Overnight trips throughout the Czech Republic spent by residents was 1,447,111, down 3.2%
(-48,574 nights).
Trips by non-residents totalled 1,424,028, up 1.6 % (+22,874 trips).
With 1,033,123 visits, Prague accounted for 36% of all visits to the Czech Republic.
Total nights in accommodation establishments throughout the Czech Republic reached
8,375,384 in 1Q 2014, which is 222,739 (-2.6%) fewer nights than the previous year.
Based on data from the Czech Statistical Office published on 9 May 2014