CITY COUNCILOR PROLOGUE
Introductory by Ondrej Pecha, city councilor
Dear Prague visitors and residents, dear colleagues,
I am aware that I am taking on this function at a time when the situation in inbound tourism in general is not exactly rosy, with our capital city being no exception. I am nevertheless deeply convinced that Prague, which in past years has been among the most popular destinations in Europe, has something to offer its visitors, and not just in the main tourist season, but all year round. Above all it is the largest protected urban heritage zone in the world, included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and its unique collection of architectural styles makes visiting it an unforgettable experience. Of course Prague is also a modern metropolis with a rich programme of cultural and social happenings – it regularly hosts many fascinating exhibitions, theatre presentations, sporting events, and music festivals from classical to pop to alternative genres. Among the attractive themes for 2010 are the 600th anniversary of the Prague Astronomical Clock and the 700th anniversary of the House of Luxembourg coming to Prague, each of which will entail a whole range of projects.
Tourism is an important sector of the economy for Prague, providing, among other things, 100 000 jobs. For this reason the city is significantly increasing its support for inbound tourism. A major ad campaign promoting the City of Prague's image has been ongoing since last year, with the goal of solidifying the city's position on the world market. This campaign included, for example, broadcasting television commercials on the channels CNN Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Eurosport, Euronews, and Markíza, publishing ads in the magazines of international airline companies, as well as putting banner ads on global internet servers. This year a new campaign is ready to be rolled out in cooperation with the Ministry for Regional Development.
One prominent element this year will be extensive promotion of the city at world tourism fairs in Europe, for example in Paris, Vienna, Zurich, Gothenburg, Saint Petersburg and London, as well as overseas in Hong Kong and Seoul, where the City of Prague's new booth will be presented.
The city's support for tourism also continues in the professional sphere, where the Partnership and Grants programmes are available.
And where can you find more information? Right here on this site you can find all the documents you need for City of Prague tourism grants or partnerships, a summary of trade fairs and presentations, and contacts for the subjects operating in the tourism sector, as well as current news.
Ondrej Pecha
City councilor