CZECH REPUBLIC TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION

The Ministry for Regional Development is responsible for co-ordinating and setting guidelines in the field of tourism. The Tourism Department carries out activities related to the development and implementation of the tourism policy, implements measures arising from tourism related strategies, and undertakes activities to enhance awareness and recognition of tourism as an important industry of the national economy and to strengthen international co-operation. The Ministry is also responsible for preparing relevant legislation, as well as monitoring and collecting statistical information, developing tourism in the regions and supporting quality and structure of tourism services.

The Czech National Tourism Board, CzechTourism, is a grant-aided organisation supported by the Ministry for Regional Development. Its principal mission is to generate awareness of the Czech Republic as a tourism destination. Its main partners are the regional tourism organisations, municipalities and business enterprises. CzechTourism’s objective is to promote tourism in co-operation with the private sector, and to review the medium-term strategy for the marketing of tourism products in the domestic and international markets.

The organisation of tourism in the Czech Republic is strongly influenced by the existence and respective administrative systems of the 14 self-governing regions in the country. Regions and individual communities are represented by different public institutions.

Cooperation between national and regional tourism organisations

• Is subject of the marketing strategy of CzechTourism and follows the BSC model which includes the perspective of stakeholders but also residents
• Department of regional and international relationship is responsible for the negotiation, informing and feedback from the regions regarding the marketing activities and product development.
• In every tourist region there is a coordinator who is involved in the harmonization of marketing activities of all public tourism bodies in the region and CzechTourism. He/she provides a two-way communication of regional public tourism bodies with CzechTourism.

National Collegium of Tourism: Consultative and advisory body of the Ministry.

Cooperation between state administration bodies, self-administrative bodies, professional associations, academic sector, independent expert public, unions and other stakeholders.

Ad hoc working groups: Set up in case of need as a support during elaboration of tourism policy, drafting of legislation in tourism, preparation and elaboration of tourism support programs, etc.