AGP Executive Report

Air Links: Vietjet has launched twice-weekly Hanoi–Almaty–Prague flights, opening a new route between the Czech capital and Southeast Asia via Kazakhstan. Winter Flights: Ryanair is increasing service on 13 Edinburgh routes, including Prague, as it expands its winter schedule. Czech Holidays: The first Czech charter flight to Salalah has arrived with 150 tourists, adding a new option for holidaymakers. Visitor Advice: Prague has scrapped taxi fare caps, renewing concerns about scams; travellers should check fares before setting off. EU Travel: The delayed €20 ETIAS waiver is not yet open for applications, and travellers are warned to avoid unofficial sites.

Czech Travel Market: The first Czech charter of the winter season landed in Oman’s Salalah carrying 150 tourists, renewing links between Czech travellers and the Dhofar region. New Air Links: Vietjet has launched Prague–Hanoi flights via Almaty, its first route into the EU; Prague is also gaining a new Almaty connection, while Baku–Prague flights are due to rise 14% in 2026. Prague Visitor Experience: The city has scrapped taxi fare caps, reviving concerns about tourist scams. Signal Festival is urging visitors to use public transport, while Prague has scored highly in visitor ratings for satisfaction and service quality. Czech Attractions: Prague Castle’s Golden Lane is getting a makeover, and a scenic Czech train route is drawing attention as rail travel gains momentum.

Air Links: Vietjet launched its first European service on Oct. 10, connecting Prague and Hanoi twice weekly via Almaty; passengers can also book the Prague–Almaty leg. What’s On: Prague’s Signal Festival runs Oct. 15–18, with light installations across the city, including a projection on the Old Town Hall tower. Rail Travel: Czech Railways carried 85.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 6.8% year on year. Winter Markets: A new rail-focused guide highlights Pilsen’s market as a more local, less crowded alternative to Prague’s festive crowds.

Travel Alerts: Czech authorities advise against transiting through Saudi airports after attacks in Riyadh; travelers should seek shelter during alarms and avoid incident sites. Prague Events: Signal Festival runs 15–18 October across the city centre and Dejvice. Expect crowds and possible traffic disruption, especially from 7 to 9 pm; the city recommends using the metro. New Flights: Vietjet has launched twice-weekly Prague–Hanoi flights via Almaty, opening a new scheduled link between the Czech capital and Vietnam. Air Links: Flights between Baku and Prague are expected to rise 14% in 2026, supporting tourism and business travel. Rail Demand: Czech Railways carried 85.5 million passengers in the first half of the year, up 6.8% year on year.

Prague Festival Travel: Signal Festival runs Oct. 15–18 across 17 sites in the city centre and Dejvice. Expect evening crowds and possible traffic restrictions; the city recommends taking the metro and exploring on foot. New Air Link: Vietjet has launched twice-weekly Prague–Hanoi flights, with a stop in Almaty, opening new options for visitors and business travellers. Taxi Watch: Prague’s removal of taxi fare caps has revived concerns about tourist overcharging. The industry warning of fares reaching tens of thousands of crowns is a prediction, not proof of new cases. Tourism Spotlight: Prague ranked ahead of Vienna and Berlin for visitor satisfaction and service quality. Meanwhile, Irish-trained Final Orders won the Velká pardubická, giving trainer Gavin Cromwell back-to-back victories in the Czech race.

Prague Fares: The city has scrapped taxi fare caps, prompting warnings from the Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism that unchecked prices could expose visitors to excessive charges and harm Prague’s reputation. Pardubice Racing: Irish-trained Final Orders won the €175,000 Velká Pardubická on Sunday, giving trainer Gavin Cromwell back-to-back victories in one of Czechia’s best-known races. New Air Link: Vietjet launched twice-weekly Prague–Hanoi flights, with a stop in Almaty, on October 10. Prague Airport expects more than 67,000 passengers to use the route in its first year. Visitor Appeal: Prague scored highly for tourist satisfaction and service quality, outperforming Vienna and Berlin in a new visitor ranking.

Spa Escapes: Mariánské Lázně is in the spotlight as a restorative autumn break, with mineral springs, historic colonnades and a grand spa hotel. The West Bohemian town is part of a UNESCO-listed network of European spa towns. Getting Around Prague: From October 11, tram services between Nákladové nádraží Žižkov and Ohrada are suspended during nearly ten weeks of track works; replacement services and diversions are in place. Visitor Appeal: Prague outscored Vienna and Berlin in visitor ratings, while Czechia is reported to be breaking tourism records. Landmark Updates: Prague Castle’s Golden Lane is getting a makeover, and the grassy square beside the Dancing House is set to be paved after heavy tourist footfall.

Prague Transport: Tram works in Žižkov begin Sunday, 11 October, disrupting nine routes until 18 December; replacement services will run. Visitor Experience: Prague scored 92.7 out of 100 for tourist satisfaction, ahead of Vienna and Berlin. Visitor spending from key overseas markets rose 18% in the first half of 2026, while visitor numbers grew about 1%. City Attractions: St Nicholas Bell Tower has a new interactive exhibition, while Prague Castle’s Golden Lane is getting a makeover. A grassy square beside the Dancing House is also set to be paved amid heavy tourist footfall. Accommodation: New lodging units are entering the market in riverside Braník. Travel Trends: Egypt’s coast is leading Czech holiday bookings ahead of the five-day school break.

Prague Visitor Appeal: Prague scored 92.7 out of 100 for visitor satisfaction, ahead of Vienna and Berlin. Visitor spending from key foreign markets rose 18% in the first half of 2026, while visitor numbers increased by about 1%. Getting Around: From Sunday, 11 October, tram service between Nákladové nádraží Žižkov and Ohrada will be suspended until 18 December for track upgrades. Nine routes will be affected, with replacement services provided. Rail Links: A new booking tool lets travellers combine Eurostar tickets with European Sleeper connections to Prague and other destinations, making onward journeys from London easier to plan. Prague Sights: The city’s Golden Lane at Prague Castle is getting a makeover, adding another update to one of the capital’s best-known visitor attractions.

Visitor Experience: Prague scored 92.7 out of 100 for tourist satisfaction, beating Vienna and Berlin. Visitor spending from key foreign markets rose 18% in the first half of 2026, while visitor numbers grew about 1%. New Air Link: Vietjet is launching Hanoi–Prague flights on October 10, expanding direct connectivity between the Czech capital and Asia. Easier Rail Planning: A new booking tool lets travellers combine Eurostar trips from London with European Sleeper connections to Prague and other destinations. New Attraction: Prague’s St Nicholas Bell Tower has opened an interactive exhibition exploring its history as a fire lookout and communist-era surveillance post. Rail Disruptions: Construction near Říčany will shorten some S9 services from October 12 to November 3; check schedules before travelling southeast of Prague. Tourism Growth: Czechia recorded an 18% year-on-year rise in air-travel bookings between May 2025 and April 2026, with tourism interest extending beyond Prague.

Tourist Safety: A coach carrying Serbian graduates on a Prague excursion caught fire in a hotel car park while the students were at breakfast. No one was hurt, and a replacement bus allowed the trip to continue. New Prague Connection: Vietjet is launching a Hanoi–Prague route on October 10, expanding direct links between the Czech capital and Asia. Prague Attractions: The St Nicholas Bell Tower has opened an interactive exhibition tracing its past as a fire lookout and communist-era surveillance post. Getting Around: Ring-road construction will disrupt regional trains between Praha-Uhříněves and Říčany through November 3, with many weekday S9 services shortened. Visitor Experience: Prague scored 92.7 out of 100 in a tourist-satisfaction index, ahead of Vienna and Berlin; visitors rated its hotels and tourism services highly.

Visitor Experience: Prague scored 92.7 out of 100 in the latest Global Tourist Perception Index, ahead of Vienna and Berlin. Visitors rated its hotels and tourist services highly, while international visitor spending is rising. Historic Sights: Prague Castle’s Golden Lane is getting a phased façade restoration, with the popular attraction staying open during the work. Rail Links: A new booking option lets London passengers combine Eurostar tickets with European Sleeper trains to Prague and other European cities. City Transport: Construction has begun on Prague’s new Malovanka–Strahov tram line.

Prague Castle: Golden Lane’s colourful façades are being restored in stages, so the attraction will stay open. Work includes repairing cracks and returning the houses to their 1955 colour scheme. Rail Connections: A new booking option lets Eurostar passengers connect in Brussels to European Sleeper night trains, including services to Prague, Berlin and Dresden. Beyond Prague: A new guide to northern Czechia highlights its rock cities, forest trails and Saxon Switzerland for visitors seeking outdoor escapes. Charles Bridge: Depeche Mode fans are flocking to the landmark to recreate a famous 1988 band photo, giving the historic bridge fresh attention as a tourist spot.

Autumn City Breaks: Jet2 is promoting direct October half-term trips from Leeds Bradford to Prague, alongside breaks in Paris, Rome and the Algarve. Rail Links: A new booking tool lets Eurostar passengers connect in Brussels with European Sleeper night trains to Prague, making it easier to travel from London by rail. Prague’s Visitor Hotspots: Charles Bridge is drawing fans recreating Depeche Mode’s 1988 photo, while the nearby Dancing House photo spot is set for a makeover. Getting Around: Prague has started building a new tram line between Malovanka and Strahov, adding capacity on the city network. Airline Sector: Pegasus Airlines has completed its acquisition of Czech Airlines and Smartwings, a major shift for the country’s aviation market.

Prague Tourism & City Life: Jiráskovo Square near the Dancing House is set for a major redesign (about CZK 35 million) over the next two years, replacing damaged lawn with paving to protect the photo spot, and restoring the historic Cubist fountain so water can flow again. Rail & Long-Distance Travel: Eurostar passengers can now book seamless connections to European Sleeper night trains via a new booking tool in Brussels, with onward links including Hamburg, Milan, Prague and Lake Como. Air Connectivity (Czech link): VietJet announced new international routes, including Hanoi–Prague, as part of its wider network expansion. Travel Deals & Budget Travel: Jet2 highlighted where beer is cheapest on holiday—Tunisia tops the list (about £1.27 per pint), with Bulgaria and the Czech Republic also among the lower-cost options. Sports Tourism (England–Czechia): England’s Nations League run continues with a Wembley clash against Czechia, keeping Czech football fans and visitors in the spotlight around the match week.

Nations League Spotlight: England wrapped up the international break with a 3-0 win over Czechia at Wembley, with an own goal from Vladimir Coufal and two more from Harry Kane helping secure a near-certain path to the March quarter-finals. On-the-ground Prague Change: Prague 2 is set to redesign Jiráskovo Square near the Dancing House, replacing damaged lawn with paving, restoring a historic fountain, and moving a monument—aimed at making the famous photo spot more durable for visitors. City Transport Upgrade: Prague has started construction on the new Malovanka–Strahov tram line (about 1.3 km), intended to cut bus traffic and boost capacity, with passenger trials planned for mid-2028. Travel Watch: Schengen border checks remain in place into 2027—Germany extended controls on all land borders and Poland extended checks on crossings with Germany and Lithuania, so travelers should expect possible identity stops. Tourism & Value: Jet2 highlights budget-friendly beer holiday picks, with Tunisia topping the list for cheapest pints—useful for Czech travelers planning winter sun getaways.