Barbara Andelova: 23.54 Million Tourists Visited the Czech Republic; Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia Are Markets We Seek to Boost Tourism From
Amid the efforts of the Czech Republic to strengthen its presence on the global tourism map, the Czech Tourism Authority, CzechTourism, is expanding its promotional campaigns to the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which represent a strategic tourism market for the Czech Republic.
In an interview with us, Barbara Andelova, International Marketing Director for the Middle East and India at CzechTourism, revealed her country’s targets in the Gulf markets, plans to strengthen direct air connectivity, the leading Arab source markets for tourism to the Czech Republic, the impact of geopolitical developments on travel flows, and plans to promote new tourism products.
To begin with, how do you view the importance of the Gulf region, which CzechTourism has recently placed at the center of its attention?
The Gulf region represents a strategic market for Czech tourism, and we are working to increase tourist flows from the region, particularly by increasing direct flights throughout the year.
CzechTourism has a representation office in Dubai, which serves as the main point of contact with the tourism and travel sector in the GCC countries. Strengthening direct air connectivity is also one of the authority’s key objectives during the coming period.
What about the current air connectivity between the Gulf countries and the Czech Republic?
There are flights from Qatar and the UAE to the Czech Republic operated by airlines such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia, in addition to low-cost carriers.
However, year-round direct air connectivity is still unavailable from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Flights from these two markets are currently limited to seasonal services during the summer through flyadeal and flynas, while Jazeera Airways operates seasonal flights from Kuwait during the main season for approximately three to four months.
We are currently seeking to encourage airlines in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to operate direct flights to the Czech Republic throughout the year, which would contribute to increasing tourist numbers.
How do you view tourism exchanges with Egypt and the North African countries?
Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are markets from which we would like to attract more tourists. We are working closely with the tourism authorities in these countries.
The growing number of Czech tourists traveling to Egypt represents a bridge for tourism cooperation that can be built upon in the future and help increase two-way tourism flows between the two countries.
Egypt has a civilization that stretches deep into history, and European travelers love to see the Egyptian monuments and antiquities up close.
Is Czech tourism promotion limited to the capital, Prague?
One of the main objectives of CzechTourism’s participation in tourism fairs is to increase awareness of the different regions across the country.
Prague is a globally renowned tourist destination and represents a major gateway to the Czech Republic. However, there are other regions, particularly in the north of the country, that offer completely different tourism experiences and can be reached from Prague in approximately one and a half hours by car.
What are the most prominent of these destinations?
First, Prague enjoys widespread popularity in the Gulf markets. However, Karlovy Vary in western Czechia is also very well known for its medical services, spa and wellness resorts, and distinctive architecture.
We are looking to introduce Gulf tourists to other destinations beyond Prague and Karlovy Vary, particularly the northern regions and the Krkonoše area, which is characterized by its natural landscapes and family-friendly activities.
What kind of tourism experiences does the Krkonoše region offer?
The region offers a wide variety of activities, ranging from adventure and sports activities to more relaxing experiences, including enjoying nature and fresh air.
The region is located approximately one and a half hours by car from Prague, on the route toward Berlin.
We also have South Bohemia, which is distinguished by its tourist attractions, architecture and UNESCO-listed sites, in addition to sports activities, nature, restaurants and services suitable for families and senior travelers.
South Bohemia’s location also makes it a suitable destination for multi-country trips, as it lies on the route toward Austria.
If a Gulf tourist spends three days, or three nights, in Prague, they can add a visit to either the northern or southern regions to their itinerary.
What are the main Arab source markets for tourism to the Czech Republic?
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the leading target markets, given their population size and their capacity to generate larger numbers of tourists compared with markets such as Qatar and Kuwait, which have smaller populations.
The number of tourists from Saudi Arabia and the UAE grew by around 10% when comparing 2025 with 2024.
Why are you not using 2026 figures in this comparison?
The figures for 2026 were not included in the comparison due to the exceptional circumstances experienced by the region, which affected tourism movements during the first half of the year.
How do you view the future of inbound tourism to the Czech Republic from the Gulf and Middle Eastern markets?
We expect tourism flows from the Gulf markets to grow by more than 10% in 2027, particularly with the stabilization of conditions in the region.
The return of peace and stability would support travel and tourism flows and open the way for an increase in the number of tourists arriving in the Czech Republic from the Middle Eastern and Gulf markets.
In figures, what are the latest data showing the performance of the tourism sector in the Czech Republic?
According to the final data issued by the Czech Statistical Office, accommodation establishments in the Czech Republic received approximately 23.54 million visitors in 2025, who recorded a total of 59.1 million overnight stays.
These included approximately 12.6 million domestic tourists and 10.9 million foreign tourists.
The number of foreign visitors increased by 4.1% compared with the previous year, reflecting continued growth in tourism demand for the Czech market.
