Overview

Czechs have been able to travel visa-free with the ESTA program since 2008. In 2021, Czechs made 15,087 trips to the United States based on data from the National Tourism and Travel Organization (NTTO). Almost two thirds of these trips took place after U.S. borders were opened to tourists. Despite the restrictions, there was a high demand for business travel to the United States using the National Interest Exception (NIE) in first ten months of the year.

Air Travel

Before the pandemic outbreak, three U.S. airlines offered direct, seasonal flights between the Czech Republic and the United States. Czechs traveling to the United States had an opportunity to take advantage of two direct flights to New York during the peak summer season with Delta Air Lines to New York’s JFK Airport and with United Airlines to New York/Newark. American Airlines operated a direct flight between Prague and Philadelphia and planned to introduce a Prague – Chicago flight in 2020. In May 2022, Delta Air Lines renewed their seasonal nonstop flight to New York. Given the success of the flight – 97 percent occupancy – Delta plans to expand the season for the flight in 2023. United Airlines and American Airlines are yet to confirm their 2023 plans. When a direct flight to the United States is not available from Prague, Czechs often prefer to transfer in Europe.

Czech Tourist Profile and Holidays

Czechs have between four and five weeks of annual vacation. Additionally, the country has thirteen official public holidays. The most popular time to vacation is the first two weeks in July. Children finish school at the end of June and Czechs enjoy two days of state holidays on July 5 and 6. July and August are generally the busiest times for travel agencies due to the school holidays. Many people also take time off around Christmas and the New Year. In February/March Czechs often take a week of leave for skiing.

The most popular vacations for Czechs are beach holidays followed by sightseeing holidays. Top European destinations for Czechs include Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, and Austria. The United States is not a typical family summer beach holiday destination for Czech tourists. The United States typically does not offer all-inclusive options which are popular amongst Czech tourists. Sightseeing in major cities and national parks are most popular among Czechs traveling to the United States. There has been an increase in business travelers extending their trips for additional days of sightseeing. Shopping trips to New York have also gained in popularity. New York along with Florida are the most visited states in the United States, followed by California.

Travel Industry Summary and eCommerce

In general, Czechs prefer to book hotels and plane tickets on their own through online portals like booking.com, letuska.cz or kiwi.com. However, Czechs tend to use travel agents and tour operators for more complex trips, including those to the United States. The VisitUSA Committee is active in the Czech Republic. Czech travel agents and tour operators have been severely hit by the decline in travel. The situation is especially difficult for tour operators focused on the U.S. market. Czech tourists are coming back to the United States, but it will take time to reach pre-covid numbers. In mid-2022, the number of Czech travelers to the United States reached almost 37,000. The slower than expected return to pre-covid numbers were also influenced by Covid vaccination requirements for travelers.
 

Sources:  U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) from the Summary of International Travel to the U.S. report

Leading Sub-Sectors

Top prospect travel destinations for Czechs include New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, the Florida Keys, and U.S. National Parks.

Opportunities

In 2021, CS Prague and VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic renewed its travel/tourism promotion activities. U.S. destinations can join the VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic as a non-resident member. The U.S. Commercial Service office at the U.S. Embassy in Prague also works with U.S. destinations to organize promotional events. In 2022, the U.S. Commercial Service Prague hosted a U.S. Destination Showcase to introduced U.S. destinations to local travel industry contacts and plans to repeat the program in 2023.

Trade Shows

The U.S. Commercial Service in Prague works with the Czech travel fair Holiday World. U.S. destinations and airlines are welcome to share booth space to promote their destination at the March 2023 fair. https://holidayworld.cz/en/index/index

GO and RegionTour https://www.bvv.cz/en/go-regiontour/

Resources

• U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries: https://www.trade.gov/national-travel-and-tourism-office
• Travel Trade & Destination Marketing Associations:
  • VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic: http://visitusa.cz/
  • U.S. Travel Association: https://www.ustravel.org/
  • BrandUSA: http://www.visittheusa.com; https://www.thebrandusa.com/

U.S. Commercial Service Contact: Veronika.novakova@trade.gov