This metropolis is focusing 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 permit guided bar-hopping to happen between 10pm and 6am, native officers introduced on Monday.
The transfer is prone to be a serious blow to tour operators who depend on Prague’s repute as a celebration metropolis, together with one which claimed to supply ‘Europe’s greatest pub crawl’.
It’s hoped the ban will scale back nighttime disturbance, contribute to cleaner streets and enhance the town’s repute amongst locals, vacationers and buyers, 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 lease 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 proscribing Airbnb-style leases.
A draft invoice accepted by the Czech authorities in August would permit municipalities and cities to restrict the quantity of Airbnb-style lodging accessible.
It’s hoped the transfer will convey down actual property costs and guarantee residents should not pressured out by vacationers in well-liked cities like Prague.
This might embody 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 rules and related native taxes on guesthouses, Airbnbs and different vacation leases, bringing their obligations consistent with conventional accommodations.
Property homeowners can be required to register lodging and visitor particulars through a brand new platform referred to as eTurista. A registration quantity for the property can be supplied, which have to be displayed on lodging listings.
If accepted, it’s hoped the brand new system will assist to extend oversight of short-term leases, a lot of which at present function in a gray space.
Presently, officers estimate that between 40 to 70 per cent of stays through on-line platforms should not reported, which may result in virtually €32 million in misplaced taxes yearly.
The brand new guidelines may come into power in July 2025.
How else is Prague cracking down on vacationers?
In addition to retaining 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 received’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 well-liked nightlife district.
Some councillors instructed that “socially unacceptable” apparel was contributing to nighttime noise and unruliness, notably 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 night time was accepted in July to cut back noise within the space. It prevents automobiles from getting into the historic district between 10pm and 6am.
Video editor • Emma De Ruiter