A record number of Czech tourists died while abroad this summer

The number of Czechs travelling abroad this summer returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to new statistics released this weekend by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, the number of deaths among Czech tourists has also seen a large increase.

A total of 139 citizens of the Czech Republic died while abroad over the summer months, a record-high number according to the Ministry. An additional 330 Czechs were victims of reported crimes during the summer of 2022.

The most popular destination for Czech tourists this year was Croatia, continuing a long-term trend. Approximately 870,000 Czechs visited destinations in Croatia this year, a 20 percent increase over 2021 and roughly equivalent to pre-pandemic years.

Greece saw a large increase in tourism from the Czech Republic, with an estimated 450,000 travelers representing an increase of nearly 100 percent from the previous summer season.

While Mediterranean beaches attracted a large number of Czech tourists this year, an increase in the number of travelers to other nearby destinations was also recorded.

"Along with traditional popular destinations as Spain, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, and Bulgaria, interest in Poland, which is attractive not only for holiday stays but also for shopping, has been rising in the past years," the Czech Foreign Ministry writes in a press release accompanying the statistics.

According to the Ministry's statistics, other data related to Czech travelers also saw a return to 2019 levels. In addition to the 330 Czechs who were victims of crime while abroad, another 288 Czech citizens were detained by foreign police, while the Ministry issued 1,266 replacement passports or other lost travel documents.

"The saddest statistic is the 139 deaths, a number which is unfortunately a record high," the Ministry writes. Another 90 Czechs were hospitalized while abroad this summer.

Owing to the increase in the number of Czech travelers to foreign destinations, the Czech Foreign Ministry has established new consulate offices in Barcelona, Burgas in Bulgaria, and Split and Rijeka in Croatia in 2022.

"It has turned out that the physical presence of our colleagues is crucial to manage the consular burden in the most frequented localities," Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Smolek states.

In addition to the special consulates, Czech police officers were also sent to some of the most popular foreign destinations for Czech tourists this year. In Croatia and Bulgaria, for example, Czech police were deployed to help tourists communicate with local authorities.