CZECH REPUBLIC


Karlovy Vary every July is a fi xture on the European fi lm calendar. The spa towns were popular with the British a century ago – King Edward VII was a regular visitor – but have yet to be re-discovered. A tour could combine them with the brewery at Pilsen, while beer lovers could continue south to Ceske Budejovice (home of Budvar). Czech Tourism is busy promoting activity holidays, especially cycling, with rafting also available around Cesky Krumlov. The Czech Republic also has a growing reputation for medical tourism, with large numbers of British visitors coming for cosmetic surgery in particular. A survey found that you can save an average of £2,500 compared to having similar treatment in the UK and other countries. Prague will always dominate demand,


but agents who get the chance to sell other parts of the country could introduce their customers to an unknown but welcoming and easily accessible land. They might just come back again and again.


Czech Republic What’s New


Czech Tourism lists nine hotels opening this year, including the four-star Deminka Palace, Noir, Jungmann and Palace Road. Also new is the Fusion, a design hotel with a rotating bar and Middle Eastern-style shisha pipes. New museums in Prague include the Alchymist, while the Gate and Barbie Doll galleries have been added to the list of arty attractions.


A Michelin star has recently been awarded to two restaurants, Alcron and La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise.


tourismtalk Jan Mlcak


UK director, Czech Tourism “UK fi gures to Czech hotels were at the same level


as the previous year in 2011 (328,000, with over 800,000 overnights), but in the fi rst three months of 2012 we saw an 8% rise. There are no new fl ights planned, but we hope other airlines will take up some of the routes dropped by bmibaby. We are starting a promotional campaign with Travel Counsellors and have been succesfully co-operating with Jet2 promoting its routes to Prague. "We are also running an online


campaign with travel and lifestyle social network Wayn.com, following last year‘s campaign with TripAdvisor. Since 2010 we have had the online training course Czech Out Prague & Beyond, with more than 7,500 passes so far.”


asktheoperators Tim Campbell


Manager, Fregata Travel “We get some demand for Prague packages from


agents who want ATOL protection, but we don’t compete with low-cost airlines, bed banks and hotel websites. Customers are well aware that Prague is as accessible as Paris, but we also get some demand for the spa towns and occasionally for Cesky Krumlov. The better spa hotels are very international and not just for medical treatment.”


Andrea Godfrey General Manager Regent Holidays


“Prague is in our top 10


Top from left: Marianske Lazne with right, the Lazne Sanatria in Klimovice


for city breaks. We sell mostly to clients over 50 who stay in our three- and four- star properties, with City Central de Lux being very popular with a great location and good value for money. Fly-drives were introduced to tempt clients out of the capital, but haven’t generated huge amounts of interest despite the rich


history, beautiful scenery, incredible spa resorts and medieval towns.”


Ted Wake Sales Director Kirker Holidays “We sell a lot of opera


and concert tickets in Prague as music is so much part of its culture, and our ‘Concierge’ service can also book restaurants and walking tours in advance. Demand is picking up again with investment in top hotels such as the Augustine, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental.”


Richard Harbourne Travel Counsellor “Generally, people only want to see Prague, but


as my wife is Czech I know the country well, and there is fantastic skiing which is not offered by UK operators. Prague is mainly for dynamic packaging, easyJet being the cheapest but Wizz Air having good prices from Luton.”


12 July/August 2012 • www.sellinglonghaul.com


So near so spa... by Dave Richardson


“I was a little apprehensive going to a Czech spa town, as I knew from other countries in Eastern Europe that this might involve doctors in white coats and some rather iffy 'treatment'. I needn’t have worried, as the emphasis nowadays is just as much on wellness as on medical treatment, and the hotels are comfortable or even luxurious.


"You can take the waters or just go for indulgence. Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne are both elegant resorts with a lot going on, and Grand Hotel Pupp at Karlovy Vary has a real sense of history. Villa Butterfly at Marianske Lazne was also very comfortable, and in this resort you can imagine the atmosphere in the 19th century.


"The highlight for me was visiting the brewery at Chodova Plana, near Marianske Lazne. Here I was able to jump into a spa bath and enjoy a dip using waste beer – a unique Czech experience!”


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