Government signs off tourism-strategy progress report; eyes new incentives for regional business events

At its regular Monday meeting on 13 July, the Czech cabinet approved a detailed progress report on the national Tourism Development Strategy 2021–2030. The document, presented by the Minister for Regional Development, reviews delivery up to 2025 and identifies next-step priorities—including a targeted scheme to attract high-spending MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traffic to secondary cities such as Brno and Ostrava. Officials pointed to the 9 % rise in conference arrivals during Q1 2026, driven largely by life-sciences and IT events. To cement that momentum, the ministry will pilot a “Green Conference” grant reimbursing up to 30 % of venue costs for organisers who meet sustainability criteria and engage local suppliers. The budget—set at CZK 150 million—will open for applications in September and is expected to benefit multinational firms planning regional kick-offs. The report also confirms that the long-awaited e-Visa portal for short-term cultural visas has completed user-acceptance testing. Launch is pencilled in for December 2026, streamlining entry for performers and technical crews attending Czech events, and reducing paperwork for sponsoring companies. Separately, ministers endorsed a new ‘airlift task-force’ between the Transport and Foreign Affairs ministries to negotiate additional long-haul services to Prague and Karlovy Vary. Negotiations with Korean Air and Air Canada are reportedly at an advanced stage, signalling further capacity for corporate travellers. Industry associations welcomed the cabinet’s decisions, but warned that accelerated visa-processing and airport investment must keep pace with promotional spend, or the country risks reputational damage from congestion during the 2028 EU Presidency year.