This metropolis is concentrating on rowdy vacationers with a bar crawl ban, costume crackdowns and Airbnb restrictions.
Prague is banning organised bar crawls in its ongoing mission to crack down on rowdy vacationers.
The Czech capital will now not enable guided bar-hopping to happen between 10pm and 6am, native officers introduced on Monday.
The transfer is prone to be a significant blow to tour operators who depend on Prague’s popularity as a celebration metropolis, together with one which claimed to supply ‘Europe’s largest pub crawl’.
It’s hoped the ban will scale back nighttime disturbance, contribute to cleaner streets and enhance the town’s popularity amongst locals, vacationers and traders, Czech information company České Noviny experiences.
The information comes simply weeks after the Czech authorities introduced plans to clamp down on short-term vacation leases to curb excessive hire costs and housing shortages in vacationer hotspots.
Czechia’s vacationer crackdown extends to Airbnb-style leases
Following the lead of cities like London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris, Czechia is limiting Airbnb-style leases.
A draft invoice permitted by the Czech authorities in August would enable municipalities and cities to restrict the quantity of Airbnb-style lodging accessible.
It’s hoped the transfer will carry down actual property costs and guarantee residents will not be pressured out by vacationers in standard cities like Prague.
This might embrace capping the variety of days a property might be rented out per 12 months, in addition to defining a minimal quantity of house required per visitor.
It might additionally place stricter laws and related native taxes on guesthouses, Airbnbs and different vacation leases, bringing their obligations in step with conventional accommodations.
Property homeowners can be required to register lodging and visitor particulars by way of a brand new platform known as eTurista. A registration quantity for the property will probably be offered, which should be displayed on lodging listings.
If permitted, it’s hoped the brand new system will assist to extend oversight of short-term leases, lots of which presently function in a gray space.
At present, officers estimate that between 40 to 70 per cent of stays by way of on-line platforms will not be reported, which may result in virtually €32 million in misplaced taxes yearly.
The brand new guidelines may come into pressure in July 2025.
How else is Prague cracking down on vacationers?
In addition to protecting tabs on rental lodging, the brand new guidelines intend to restrict the variety of vacationer residences in metropolis centres – lowering noise disturbance within the course of.
In Prague specifically, rowdy vacationers are driving locals out of the capital’s historic Previous City. The Airbnb crackdown has due to this fact been welcomed by district councillors.
It gained’t be their first try and rein in noisy guests. Earlier this 12 months, one district council proposed a ban on outlandish costumes worn by stag and hen events, which it stated encourage drunk and rowdy behaviour in Prague’s standard nightlife district.
Some councillors prompt that “socially unacceptable” apparel was contributing to nighttime noise and unruliness, significantly on organised pub crawls.
A earlier plea by the town district to restrict enterprise opening hours within the metropolis centre was rejected final 12 months.
Nonetheless, a ban on vehicles getting into a part of the Previous City at evening was permitted in July to scale back noise within the space. It prevents autos from getting into the historic district between 10pm and 6am.
Video editor • Emma De Ruiter
