Overview
Czechs have been able to travel visa-free to the United States via ESTA since 2008. In 2022, Czechs made 87,432 trips to the United States according to National Tourism and Travel Organization (NTTO) data. Though not yet reaching pre-covid numbers, Czechs are quickly returning to the United States. The easing of COVID restrictions in May 2023 requiring a vaccination for travelers to the United States will continue to aid this trend. While the number of leisure tourists is increasing, business tourism is still slower to rebound to pre-covid numbers as companies continue to rely on online meeting tools.
Air Travel
Before the pandemic outbreak, three U.S. airlines offered direct seasonal flights between the Czech Republic and the United States. Delta operated a direct flight to/from JFK Airport and United Airlines operated a direct flight to/from Newark Airport. Additionally, 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 returned as the only nonstop courier with its seasonal flight in 2023. United Airlines and American Airlines have not yet announced their intentions for direct flights in 2024. 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 among 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 and Florida are the most visited 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. Business by Czech travel agents and tour operators has been severely hit by the pandemic. The situation has been especially difficult for tour operators focused on the U.S. market. Czech tourists are slowly returning to the United States, but it will take time to reach pre-covid numbers.
Travel Data
|
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (Estimated) |
|
Number of trips Czech travelers made to the U.S. |
127,022 |
19,960 |
15,087 |
87,432 |
100,000 |
|
% Change |
6.4% |
-84.3% |
-24.4% |
479. 5% |
14.37% |
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
The U.S. Commercial Service office at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, along with its VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic partner, actively promote the United States as a travel destination. U.S. destinations can join the VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic as a non-resident member. The U.S. Commercial Service also works with U.S. destinations to organize promotional events. In 2022, for example, the U.S. Commercial Service Prague hosted a U.S. Destination Showcase to introduced destinations to local travel industry contacts. It is also planning an October 2023 program in Prague.
Trade Shows
Resources
- Travel Trade & Destination Marketing Associations:
- VisitUSA Committee Czech Republic: http://visitusa.cz/
- U.S. Travel Association: https://www.ustravel.org/
U.S. Commercial Service Contact: Veronika.novakova@trade.gov.