According to the Peninsula, tourist arrivals from Qatar to the Czech Republic have seen 80 percent increase in the last three years based on figures from Prague Airport making the Central European country a popular destination for tourists from Qatar, Czech Tourist Authority (CzechTourism) has said.

The number of travellers from Qatar comprising both nationals and expatriates is expected to see a steady year-on-year rise owing to a number of factors.

“Travel from Qatar to the Czech Republic continues to be on the upswing and we believe that we are just at the beginning of a further surge of influx from Doha, considering the geographical proximity between the two countries and visa exemption. Furthermore, the two daily direct flights operated by Qatar Airways are making it an ideal destination to both short and long vacations for both individual and family travelers,” said Monika Palatkova, Managing Director of CzechTourism.

“The Qatari market is very important and has high potential in terms of quality because Qatari visitors are really very sophisticated and are searching for products that Czech Republic can offer. It’s also very important to say that their average daily expenditure as well as their length of stay are above the range compared to other countries in the region and worldwide,” she said.

Establishing a representative office in the region by next year or 2020 is part of the strategy to cement a stronger presence in the Middle East which has seen growing importance for CzechTourism, she added.

Czech Republic is known to travellers for its over 1200 castles, 12 Unesco World Heritage sites, thermal spas, crystal glass, picturesque places and stunning cultural landscapes. Halal food is widely available in Czech Republic as CzechTourism and its trade partners had been focusing on the Middle East market for a long time.

According to Martin Dvorakm Ambassador of Czech Republic to Kuwait he said, “We could see at today’s glassmakers’ workshop that the art of Bohemian glass and crystals attracts a lot of attention and is being internationally recognized for its high quality, craftsmanship, beauty and innovative design. I am proud that the Czech Embassy in Kuwait, in cooperation with our partners, CzechTourism and Qatar Chamber was able to open the door to Czech companies to the many business opportunities that exist in Qatar."