Czechs are clear about how they will spend this spring – they will stay at home and go exploring the Czech Republic. According to current research by the CzechTourism agency, 76% of those surveyed are planning a spring vacation in the country, which represents a year-on-year increase of 21 percentage points and the highest share in the last three years. They will most often head to the South Bohemian and South Moravian regions and visit more than one region during their stay. At the same time, shorter, flexible stays are coming to the fore. Czechs will spend 6.5 days on spring vacation, half a day more than last year, and almost half of them prefer long weekends. On average, they will spend 7,632 crowns per person and will enjoy their free time as a combination of relaxation and lighter sports activities, such as hiking or walking. Thanks to its accessibility and diverse offer, the Czech Republic confirms its position as an ideal destination for a spring restart.
Shorter vacation, greater emphasis on experiences
This year’s spring vacation will be marked primarily by well-being, nature and light exercise. Czechs most often go with their partner (41%) and with their family (34%), a smaller part with friends (13%) or solo (10%). Almost half (49%) of those surveyed prefer extended weekends, while 23% of them choose a classic week-long vacation. As many as nine out of ten research participants plan to spend a maximum of ten days on spring vacation.
“Czechs want to travel more often, but for shorter periods. They are looking for places where they can quickly recharge their batteries, be in nature and at the same time enjoy quality services. The Czech Republic offers ideal conditions in this regard – everything is accessible, varied and within reach,” says František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Board – CzechTourism, adding: “This year, it has become even more evident that, in addition to price and quality of services, the need to travel safely and without complications also plays a role. That is why people are choosing domestic destinations more often, which give them security, flexibility and a wide range of experiences in a small space.”
Price, quality and return to favorite places are decisive
Exercise in nature remains the main motive for spring travel. A third of Czechs plan to spend their vacation relaxingly, but with lighter sports activities, with hiking (74%) and walks with family or friends dominating (63%). Shorter cycling trips (29%), water activities and visits to swimming pools or aquaparks (17%) are also popular. Less than a fifth want to mainly relax, 17% plan to visit cities and 13% will go to cultural monuments. Preferences vary by age. While people aged 30–39 are more likely to choose a family-oriented program, the younger generation (18–29) is more likely to seek out more dynamic forms of exercise such as mountain hiking (21%), via ferratas (12%) or yoga-focused stays (14%).
“Hiking and outdoor activities have long been among the most popular activities that Czechs engage in during their holidays. It is the combination of accessible landscapes, high-quality signage and a varied range of routes that make the Czech Republic an ideal destination for active recreation. At the same time, we see that people are increasingly combining exercise with other experiences, whether it is gastronomy, culture or relaxation in a spa,” adds Tereza Hofmanová, Director of the Management and B2B Cooperation Department at CzechTourism.
When choosing a holiday, price (94%) and quality of services (93%) play a crucial role, as does information about accommodation on the website (91%), location (88%) or nearby tourist attractions (85%). More than half of respondents (55%) are inspired by recommendations from friends and family. The younger generation in particular is more likely to draw inspiration from social networks (48%).
Czechs remain loyal to proven places – almost a third of them are returning to places they already know. This year, they are most often heading to the South Bohemian (18%) and South Moravian regions (17%) and will visit several regions during one holiday. They most often travel by car or motorbike (69%), while about a fifth (21%) of them use the train.
When travelling around the Czech Republic, people use map applications extensively (88%), most notably Mapy.cz/Mapy.com (42%) and Google Maps (19%). Tourists also often use the Waze application (10%).
Czechs to spend similar to last year’s spring break, guesthouses lead
Approximately half of people plan to spend similar to last year (47%), while a fifth plan to spend more (19%) and a tenth plan to spend less. Costs remain rather stable year-on-year. Czechs plan to spend an average of 7,632 for their spring break CZK per person. More than half of this amount – CZK 3,919 – goes to accommodation. Czechs most often choose mass facilities with a higher standard, such as guesthouses (49%) or hotels with three or more stars (41%).
Another significant item of holiday expenditure is meals in restaurants (19%), fuel (10%) and shopping, such as souvenirs, food or clothing (10%). A smaller part of the budget goes to additional transport (6%) and other expenses (3%).
“Czechs are clear about where it is worth paying extra – they want quality accommodation and good food, but at the same time they carefully consider the price-performance ratio. It turns out that luxury is not the key for them, but the overall experience and the certainty that the holiday will meet their expectations,” summarizes Petr Janeček, head of the Institute of Tourism.
Fewer Czechs are going abroad this spring than last year
33% of Czechs are planning a spring holiday abroad, which is 13 percentage points less year-on-year. On average, they want to travel abroad for 7.7 days and most often go to Italy (18%), Slovakia (17%), Austria (16%) and Poland (15%).
When choosing accommodation, they most often prefer higher-category hotels (59%) and in terms of transport, air connections prevail (41%). The average cost of a foreign holiday reaches 17,084 crowns per person, with the largest part of the budget falling, as in the Czech Republic, on accommodation (7,934 CZK).
People with a university degree are more likely to go abroad. In the case of those who are not going abroad, the most common reason is that they are not travelling at all in the spring (54%) or are limited by finances (29%). In addition to price and availability, the desire to travel safely and without complications also plays a role in the decision-making process, which is particularly beneficial for domestic destinations.
Easter: traditions remain, interest in events and shorter trips is growing
Easter remains primarily a family holiday for most Czechs. More than four-fifths (81%) of those surveyed, more often people over 60, want to spend the spring holidays at home. A smaller proportion will go to visit friends (10%), to stay in the Czech Republic (6%) or abroad (4%). At the same time, however, the trend of associating Easter with experiences and trips is growing. 77% of Czechs plan to visit Easter events, such as fairs or folklore festivals, in their place of residence, and another 17% will go to other regions.
Easter is thus increasingly connecting traditions with a modern lifestyle. People maintain typical customs – baking Easter treats (53%), dyeing eggs (50%), feasting (29%) or knitting pomlázka (28%), but at the same time they use the holidays to discover new places and take short trips. At the same time, 83% of Czechs perceive pomlázka as a traditional, rather symbolic part of Easter.
The increased interest in Easter stays is also confirmed by current data. Occupancy during the holiday weekend is around 63% and the average price per room is 3,350 crowns. Compared to last year, this is a slight decrease, both in occupancy (72.5%) and prices (3,424 crowns). The number of available facilities has also decreased year-on-year, by almost 1,200 to the current level of less than 15,000. The highest occupancy rates are reported by the Olomouc (82%), Ústí nad Labem (72%) and South Moravian regions (71%). Traditional tourist areas also remain popular, such as Šumava (75%), Plzeňsko (74%), Kralický Sněžník (73%) or Pošumaví (65%). In terms of prices, Prague stands out significantly with an average of 7,334 crowns per room. The Karlovy Vary (3,359 CZK) and South Moravian (3,298 CZK) regions follow with a greater distance.
Those interested can find inspiration and tips on the Kudy z nudy portal!
Honesty, craft skills, ancestral heritage, love and time-tested skills – these are Czech, Moravian and Silesian traditions. The Kudy z nudy tourist portal, operated by the CzechTourism agency, brings a whole range of inspiration and tips on where and how to spend this year’s Easter. These include folk festivals and celebrations, regional specialties, Czech beer tastings, or places where visitors can meet masters of their craft and discover the secrets of traditional crafts. Spa treatment lovers and Easter specialties that only leave dust on their plates will also find something for themselves. Foreign tourists will find tips on the VisitCzechia.com website. Everything in one place and regularly updated.