Bookings suggest Czechs are hyped for summer holidays, despite pandemic

Despite the pandemic, Czechs are busy preparing for the summer holidays. Travel agencies have already sold thousands of tickets to warm destinations such as Greece, Egypt, Spain and Turkey. Aware of the situation, providers have accustomed their travel packages to the coronavirus situation, offering free cancelations until just before the trip as well as free PCR tests.

Czechs are particularly interested in traveling in July, a survey conducted by the travel agency Invia shows. The most common clients are people in their 40s, followed by families with children, who make up roughly a third of all purchases. Early tickets offer several benefits, for example, a 40 percent discount with some travel agencies.

There is also a significant number of Czechs who are using the travel vouchers they received in return for a forced cancellation of their trip last year, when lockdowns in several countries ruined their plans.

Invia issued 4,000 such vouchers, with 20 percent of the agencies current clientele using them to buy their upcoming holiday. Their rivals Blue Sky issued as much as 100,000 vouchers last year.

Several agencies have also begun offering the option to cancel the holiday with a full refund until just a few days before the trip starts. The company Fischer also offers its clients the chance to pay a deposit with their booking, with the rest of the payment requested 30 days before the flight.

As far as travel destinations are concerned, it is the usual destinations that are currently at the top of the table. Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Tunis and Spain, are all long established favourites among Czechs. However, travel agencies are also making sure to add new options. For example, Exim Tours has added Menorca, Mallorca, Ibitha and Santorini to its offers.

The train-line operator RegioJet is planning to open up its summer bookings to Croatia in mid-February.

It is also domestic hotel businesses that have registering interest. Several notified Czech Radio that they are already full with reservations.