CzechTourism looks forward to 2007

CzechTourism’s defining moment in China could be just a year away. Two major factors affecting travels from China – visa application and direct air links – are expected to be resolved in 2007, according to head of representative office, Vávra Jiri.



Provided Czech meets the European Union (EU) requirements, it will be amember state of the Schengen group and checks at its borders will be phased out by October 2007. A Schengen visa allows the traveller to visit all member states. This should have a positive impact on visitors from China, where visa application is still a deterrent to overseas travels.



It is likewise within the same year when the national carrier, Czech Airlines, will receive the delivery of three Airbus 320s, which are intended to prop up expansion programmes to Japan and China, Jiri said.



Other countries with pending applications for Schengen membership are Hungary, Slovak and Poland. Czech and the countries cited have been EU members since May 2004.



“Next year, we will be very busy,” Jiri said.

The tourism office in China and the Czech stakeholders have been teaming up as the countdown begins. During the last week of May, CzechTourism and Czech-based travel trade went on road shows in China and Hong Kong, where TravelWeekly caught up with Jiri.







The NTO said the road shows batted to provide the tourism industry professionals, as well as individual visitors, with the information on business opportunities in Czech, to serve as a platform for establishing contacts with participating Czech business partners and to offer the first-hand experience of the Czech cuisine, crafts and culture, which were highlighted during each road show stop.



Seminars for local agents were dove tailed with buyer-seller matching.



Jiri emphasised the need for the market to get more educated about what Czech has to offer. Last year, there was a total of 18,806 travels to Czech out of China, most of the visitors travelling on business visas. Travel volume from Hong Kong is much lower.



While visitor arrivals are important, he said that efforts are likewise made to entice the visitors to stay longer. In 2005, only 30 percent of total Chinese arrivals stayed in Czech for 24 hours or more. With so many things that one can see and do in his country, he said that even three days are actually not enough.



“Our destination has a big potential. It is very small but very easy for travelling. Prague is only two hours from all the other special places,” he said. It boasts of UNESCO heritage sites, all 13 located within 80 sqm. Spa, sports, golf and wine tourism are likewise worth checking out.



There are currently 74 luxury golf courses. Those who appreciate wines should be interested to know that Czech produces at least 20 kinds of fine wines but in volumes that do not allow extras for exportation. Thus a visit is imperative to try these out.



With regard to Hong Kong market, he believed that niche products should be introduced such as spa and golf to set them apart from other neighbouring destinations.



In general, the NTO’s marketing campaign in the Greater China region will entail print advertisements as well as fam trips for the agents. Borek Seehák said that the NTO support is a very important complement to the private sector’s efforts.

Seehák is operations manager of Czech based Atypus, which specialises in Central European tours.



The Czech agents are in for the longterm in developing the China and Hong Kong. Korel Zarsky, director of sales of EuroAgentur, said that while it was difficult to gauge how long it would take for the markets to firm up, he was bullish that

these would be worth tapping.



Jiri had spoken with Czech Airlines to discuss the need for direct flights. The choice of airport is a toss between Beijing and Shanghai. Before it launches regular services, the carrier needs a commitment of 30,000 pax a year, a figure which is very easy to hit, he said.



China outbound figures to Czech is already considered good, according to Clive Hammond, managing director in Hong Kong of Liberty International Tourism Group, which provides land arrangements in almost 20 countries around the world. He said that demand for Czech out of China could also be traced to fascination with the country’s socialist past.



As per his experience, Hong Kong demand for Czech has been very low. He said that direct air links from Hong Kong should help.



Echoing the basic requirement for China, Joseph Lo, director of Global Union Transportation, which is Czech Airlines’ GSA in Hong Kong, said that critical mass is needed and that he didn’t see this happening very soon, in Hong Kong at least, because Czech is very accessible from many borders. Thus the traveller might find it more practical to use another European country as a base when visiting.





Why visit Czech in summer?



Czech in summer offers all-day and all-night entertainment which could take you to a round of beer, touted to be the world’s best, or a decadent wine-tasting. Accommodation costs are at a minimum and the same goes for transportation. You can have a respite from civiliSation as you travel back in time exploring districts steeped in history. And, wherever you may be, shopping is never far away.