11 May 2026, Prague – Prague drew 1,660,515 domestic and international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, a modest year-on-year rise of around 5%, according to the latest data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). This growth held firm despite disruption to air travel linked to the conflict in the Middle East, a picture corroborated by supplementary analyses of air traffic data and visitor spending patterns. “Prague continues to attract higher-spending visitors who seek quality services, while steadily encouraging travellers to venture beyond the city’s historic core,” says Tomáš Slabihoudek, councillor for culture and tourism. Germany led the way among international visitors in the first quarter, with 178,105 tourists, followed by the United Kingdom with 117,682 and Italy with 99,755. Domestic travellers consistently accounted for one fifth of all arrivals. The standout year-on-year surge came from Ireland, with Irish visitor numbers leaping 75% to 23,071, partly driven by the new air connection from Cork, which has been operating since last autumn. Prague City Tourism lent further momentum ahead of the route’s launch through its “Prague, the City of Mystery” campaign, timed to coincide with bestselling author Dan Brown’s latest novel, which is set in the Czech capital. Visitors from further afield are also finding their way to Prague in growing numbers, despite the disruption to Middle Eastern air corridors. CZSO data shows that the strongest gains came from Japan (15,732 tourists, up 34% year on year), Taiwan (18,475 tourists, up 22%), and the South Korea (33,038 tourists, up 13%). The conflict’s impact was not felt evenly. Prague recorded its sharpest decline among Israeli visitors, whose numbers fell by 31% year on year to 29,874, while arrivals from the United Arab Emirates dipped 10% to 3,747. “Prague benefits not only from its reputation as an attractive destination, but also from being seen as a safe capital with ever-improving services in hospitality and gastronomy,” says František Cipro, chair of Prague City Tourism’s board. “The continued growth in the first quarter also reflects other factors, such as the earlier timing of Easter this year. At the same time, air travel disruption via the Middle East and broader safety concerns have led many tourists to rethink their plans, and to choose European destinations, Prague among them, over more exotic alternatives,” he adds. The data also points to the growing prominence of independent travellers. According to an analysis of social media posts using Mastercard Tourism Insights data, Prague is most often visited by couples, who make up 38.8% of all guests. Families account for roughly one third, solo travellers around 19%, and groups of friends approximately 14%. The shift towards higher-spending visitors is equally evident: Mastercard data shows that nearly 70% of visitors stayed in four- or five-star hotels. To meet growing interest in exploring Prague more broadly, the city has launched the Enjoy Respect Prague campaign This is an informational initiative that uses engaging communication to address issues such as observing night-time quiet hours and the ban on drinking alcohol in designated public areas. Prague’s longer-term ambition is to foster a sustainable relationship between international visitors and residents, and to draw tourists beyond the traditional heritage zone into other parts of the city, spreading the benefits of tourism more evenly across the capital.
