The Czech Republic has taken stricter measures regarding mass tourism. Authorities have decided to tighten regulation due to the growing number of tourist apartments advertised on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.
One of the main measures will allow municipalities to decide on aspects such as the maximum number of days an apartment can be rented to tourists, the timing of these rentals and the maximum number of tenants according to the square meters of the property, as reported by Xataka. In addition, the bill includes a measure to ban “ridiculous costumes” in certain areas.
The increase in tourism in Prague has been accompanied by a growth in short-term rentals. According to a report by the IPR (Institute for Planning and Development in Prague), around 8,000 apartments are currently rented in the city through platforms such as Airbnb, with the majority of these located in the center, which is 1,000 more than in mid-2021.
In July, the Czech government approved a major draft related to tourism businesses, which is still awaiting review by deputies and senators. The new regulation is expected to be presented in September.
The government has also stressed its intention to create “a fairer business environment” in the tourism sector, allowing municipalities to better regulate short-term rentals and, at the same time, improve tax collection. It is estimated that a significant portion of apartments offered online are not properly registered, resulting in millions of dollars in losses to the public budget each year.
On the other hand, the Prague 1 district in the city center had proposed a ban on “ridiculous costumes” as part of an attempt to regulate stag parties, especially those popular with British tourists. This proposal has generated controversy, with some arguing that such activities bring considerable economic benefit to the city, provided they are well organized.
