Prague to launch official tourist pass in 2019

Prague, Czech Republic – Granted, it wasn’t that difficult in the first place, but being a tourist in the Czech capital is about to get a whole lot easier. The municipal City Tourism office (PCT) announced it will launch, in April 2019, an official Prague visitor and tourist pass.

According to preliminary information, the pass, intended for all Prague visitors, will be available both in print and in various digital formats that users will be able to download. Still under development by municipal Operator ICT (OICT), its official name has yet to be unveiled.

The Prague tourist pass should, however, comprise several key-features that will make life much easier for all the foreigners coming to spend a few days on the banks of the Vltava: it should include public transport tickets, as well as a guide and practical information regarding Prague’s main sights (monuments, museums, etc.) and events organized by municipal authorities around the city.

Tourists already have the option of choosing from a small variety of tourism passes developed by private operators. Approximately 50.000 people use it every year. The goal of the new official card is to bring that number to 250.000 in five or ten years.

A similar card already exists in the region of Olomouc, in Moravia, and is being considered for the Central Bohemian region.

Prague is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Europe. Last year, over 20 million people visited the Czech Republic, including more than 10 million foreigners. The country’s capital recorded a record number of arrivals, with 7.7 million tourists (7% increase year-on-year), including 6.6 million foreigners. All Czech regions have experienced a significant hike in tourist arrivals over the last several years.

Although neighboring countries (Germany, Slovakia, Poland) still account for most of visiting foreigners, official data show an impressive increase of citizens from Asian countries, mainly China (+38% in one year) and South Korea (+28%).