Czech hotels and travel agencies see losses of about half a billion Czech crowns linked to Icelandic volcano eruption

Czech travel agencies and hotels have lost about half a billion Czech crowns in profits due to a cloud of volcanic ash that spread over the continent and closed down European air traffic for a number of days. The figure was published on Wednesday, when businesses from the tourism sector met with officials from the Ministry of Regional Development. After the meeting, Minister of Regional Development Rostislav Vondruška said that the ministry would try to secure some form of financial aid for affected businesses both from the state budget and EU funds. In addition, the ministry will also launch an advertising campaign to help boost tourism in the second half of the year.