Czech Tourism CEO: Direct Flights Between Taiwan and Czech Republic Boost Tourism, Hopes for Deeper Stays
František Reismüller, CEO of Czech Tourism, noted the friendly relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, having studied in Taipei in 2006 and 2007. Direct flights launched by China Airlines in 2023 led to 150,000 Taiwanese visitors in 2024. Starlux Airlines will also open a direct route in August 2024. The tourism board aims to increase the average length of stay and promote exploration beyond Prague, while also applying AI to improve website user experience.
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- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 16:26
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Whether it's the recent match between Taiwan and the Czech Republic in the WBC World Baseball Classic, or the famous singer Jolin Tsai re-recording "Prague Square," Taiwanese people's interest in traveling to the Czech Republic has rapidly increased.
František Reismüller, CEO of Czech Tourism, stated in an interview that the relationship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic is friendly, and he has a special connection with Taiwan, having studied in Taipei in 2006 and 2007, and has deep affection for this beautiful island of Formosa. "I miss Taiwan very much and hope to visit Taiwan again, but before that, Taiwanese friends are very welcome to travel to Prague and various places in the Czech Republic."
Reismüller said that Czech tourism continues to grow steadily, with international visitor numbers estimated to increase by about 5% to 10% in 2025, indicating that the market has recovered after the pandemic. "Interestingly, our overall numbers have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. However, the recovery speed varies across different markets, especially long-haul travel which is still slightly lagging."
Since China Airlines opened direct flights between Taipei and Prague in 2023, the number of Taiwanese tourists has grown significantly. Reismüller pointed out that about 150,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the Czech Republic in 2024, ranking 15th, a brilliant performance.
He said: "The Taiwanese market slowed down slightly in 2025, possibly due to economic factors. Immediately after the direct flights opened, we saw an increase in passengers, and flights have been almost full for a long time, which is a very important signal."
In addition, Starlux Airlines will also open a direct flight route from Taipei to Prague in August this year, competing for the direct flight market between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, and also enhancing the convenience of bilateral exchanges.
However, the current average stay for international tourists in the Czech Republic is about 3.5 days. Reismüller said that the tourism board hopes to increase the number of "overnight stays" rather than simply pursuing growth in visitor numbers.
He said: "We hope that tourists will treat the Czech Republic as a single destination, not just as part of an itinerary with Austria. Of course, it is natural for long-haul travelers to visit neighboring countries along the way, but the longer they stay in the Czech Republic, the more deeply they can experience the country."
He believes that ideal tourists are willing to spend money, explore deeply, value quality, and keep moving, for example, by taking trains or renting cars, and staying longer in different cities.
Speaking of tourism in the Czech Republic, many people think of fairytale-like romantic Prague. However, during peak season, Prague city center is often crowded, which drives up accommodation prices and affects tourism quality, and has therefore been repeatedly criticized for "overtourism."
Reismüller said that in addition to Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, the city has many corners worth exploring. "We want to convey a message: 'Prague is not just about the World Heritage historical center.' At the same time, we are also taking various measures to reduce the impact of tourism on local communities."
Reismüller shared that Prague has concerts and opera performances throughout the year, and numerous pop music festivals in the summer. Travelers who love contemporary art can also visit the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art and the Kunsthalle Praha art museum.
He said: "If you are young, I don't mean age, but mindset, and want to live like a local, you can go to places like Žižkov or Karlín, where there are beautiful bars, cafes, and you can enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle, which is very pleasant. This is also a good way to experience Prague."
In addition, Reismüller hopes that international tourists will realize that the Czech Republic not only has world-renowned cultural heritage but also relaxing natural landscapes. "From the map, the Czech Republic looks like a basin, flat in the middle, surrounded by mountains, and the mountain scenery in the border areas is particularly beautiful."
He said: "We are not an extreme country, unlike Austria with its towering Alps, nor like some Balkan countries with wide and turbulent rivers. But we have beautiful, peaceful nature."
For travelers who love outdoor activities, he suggests going to the northern and western mountains, which are suitable for skiing and mountain biking; the south retains man-made ponds from the 16th and 17th centuries, with picturesque scenery, suitable for cycling exploration.
Reismüller said: "Hiking is the best way to travel in the Czech Republic. You will see colored markers on trees or stones, such as red, yellow, blue, green, and these markers will guide you forward. You don't need a map or a mobile phone, you can completely 'digitally detox,' follow the markers, cross paths, and forests, which is good for physical and mental health."
He recommended that the primeval forests of the Krkonoše Mountains and Jizera Mountains in the northern Czech Republic are not far from the capital and are worth visiting.
In terms of transportation, the Czech Republic has a safe driving environment and an extensive railway network. "Most places can be reached within about 2 hours, and the bus system is also very convenient."
Tourism plays an important role in the Czech economy. Reismüller pointed out that the tourism industry employs more people than the automotive industry, and its contribution to GDP and per capita disposable income is also greater than agriculture.
With the advent of the AI era, Reismüller shared that the tourism board is also applying artificial intelligence in the tourism industry. "We are trying to use AI to improve website user experience, such as generating FAQs and testing automated chatbots, to make it easier for users to find information."
He said that many hotels also extensively use AI for revenue management and forecasting, and there are also tourism companies focused on AI entrepreneurship. "So AI applications are developing, but still in their early stages." (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1150410
František Reismüller, CEO of Czech Tourism, stated in an interview that the relationship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic is friendly, and he has a special connection with Taiwan, having studied in Taipei in 2006 and 2007, and has deep affection for this beautiful island of Formosa. "I miss Taiwan very much and hope to visit Taiwan again, but before that, Taiwanese friends are very welcome to travel to Prague and various places in the Czech Republic."
Reismüller said that Czech tourism continues to grow steadily, with international visitor numbers estimated to increase by about 5% to 10% in 2025, indicating that the market has recovered after the pandemic. "Interestingly, our overall numbers have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. However, the recovery speed varies across different markets, especially long-haul travel which is still slightly lagging."
Since China Airlines opened direct flights between Taipei and Prague in 2023, the number of Taiwanese tourists has grown significantly. Reismüller pointed out that about 150,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the Czech Republic in 2024, ranking 15th, a brilliant performance.
He said: "The Taiwanese market slowed down slightly in 2025, possibly due to economic factors. Immediately after the direct flights opened, we saw an increase in passengers, and flights have been almost full for a long time, which is a very important signal."
In addition, Starlux Airlines will also open a direct flight route from Taipei to Prague in August this year, competing for the direct flight market between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, and also enhancing the convenience of bilateral exchanges.
However, the current average stay for international tourists in the Czech Republic is about 3.5 days. Reismüller said that the tourism board hopes to increase the number of "overnight stays" rather than simply pursuing growth in visitor numbers.
He said: "We hope that tourists will treat the Czech Republic as a single destination, not just as part of an itinerary with Austria. Of course, it is natural for long-haul travelers to visit neighboring countries along the way, but the longer they stay in the Czech Republic, the more deeply they can experience the country."
He believes that ideal tourists are willing to spend money, explore deeply, value quality, and keep moving, for example, by taking trains or renting cars, and staying longer in different cities.
Speaking of tourism in the Czech Republic, many people think of fairytale-like romantic Prague. However, during peak season, Prague city center is often crowded, which drives up accommodation prices and affects tourism quality, and has therefore been repeatedly criticized for "overtourism."
Reismüller said that in addition to Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, the city has many corners worth exploring. "We want to convey a message: 'Prague is not just about the World Heritage historical center.' At the same time, we are also taking various measures to reduce the impact of tourism on local communities."
Reismüller shared that Prague has concerts and opera performances throughout the year, and numerous pop music festivals in the summer. Travelers who love contemporary art can also visit the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art and the Kunsthalle Praha art museum.
He said: "If you are young, I don't mean age, but mindset, and want to live like a local, you can go to places like Žižkov or Karlín, where there are beautiful bars, cafes, and you can enjoy a Bohemian lifestyle, which is very pleasant. This is also a good way to experience Prague."
In addition, Reismüller hopes that international tourists will realize that the Czech Republic not only has world-renowned cultural heritage but also relaxing natural landscapes. "From the map, the Czech Republic looks like a basin, flat in the middle, surrounded by mountains, and the mountain scenery in the border areas is particularly beautiful."
He said: "We are not an extreme country, unlike Austria with its towering Alps, nor like some Balkan countries with wide and turbulent rivers. But we have beautiful, peaceful nature."
For travelers who love outdoor activities, he suggests going to the northern and western mountains, which are suitable for skiing and mountain biking; the south retains man-made ponds from the 16th and 17th centuries, with picturesque scenery, suitable for cycling exploration.
Reismüller said: "Hiking is the best way to travel in the Czech Republic. You will see colored markers on trees or stones, such as red, yellow, blue, green, and these markers will guide you forward. You don't need a map or a mobile phone, you can completely 'digitally detox,' follow the markers, cross paths, and forests, which is good for physical and mental health."
He recommended that the primeval forests of the Krkonoše Mountains and Jizera Mountains in the northern Czech Republic are not far from the capital and are worth visiting.
In terms of transportation, the Czech Republic has a safe driving environment and an extensive railway network. "Most places can be reached within about 2 hours, and the bus system is also very convenient."
Tourism plays an important role in the Czech economy. Reismüller pointed out that the tourism industry employs more people than the automotive industry, and its contribution to GDP and per capita disposable income is also greater than agriculture.
With the advent of the AI era, Reismüller shared that the tourism board is also applying artificial intelligence in the tourism industry. "We are trying to use AI to improve website user experience, such as generating FAQs and testing automated chatbots, to make it easier for users to find information."
He said that many hotels also extensively use AI for revenue management and forecasting, and there are also tourism companies focused on AI entrepreneurship. "So AI applications are developing, but still in their early stages." (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1150410
FAQ
What is the special connection between Czech Tourism CEO František Reismüller and Taiwan?
CEO Reismüller studied in Taipei in 2006 and 2007 and has deep affection for Taiwan.
How have Taiwanese visitor numbers to the Czech Republic changed since China Airlines launched direct flights to Prague?
Since the direct flights opened in 2023, approximately 150,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the Czech Republic in 2024, ranking 15th, showing significant growth.