Prague will financially support tourism and culture. It has prepared special vouchers for tourists – ČT24 – Czech Television
Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the decline in culture is estimated at twelve billion crowns and, according to the municipality, threatens over ten thousand jobs. Therefore, private and municipal institutions receive support. “We tried not to forget anyone,” Třeštíková said.
Private theaters and clubs will be able to apply to the municipality for a subsidy of up to five hundred thousand crowns. Cultural institutions that have already received a grant from the city will be able to request an increase of 20 percent. In addition, the municipality has postponed the deadline for applying for a municipal grant from June to September. Prague will also support its organizations that have lost profits from sales. These include, for example, the Capital City Gallery or the Capital City Museum.
The longer a tourist stays in Prague, the more the voucher is “charged”
In tourism, there is an estimated decline of up to one hundred billion crowns. The city offers tourists a voucher. For example, when visiting a hotel, he will be able to get a body, where one point will be worth 200 crowns. Depending on how long he stays in the hotel, he will receive so many points, which he will then be able to use, for example, in a theater or club.
The city now wants to focus mainly on domestic tourists and motivate them to cross in the capital. “It would be ideal for them to stay more than one night,” Třeštíková said. The longer they stay in Prague, the more points they earn on the voucher, which can then be used in theaters, clubs, a planetarium, a zoo or on lookout towers.
The city company Prague City Tourism (PCT) will launch an advertising campaign in the regions on the Internet, in the press or on television. Software for the use of vouchers is now being prepared by the city form ICT Operator.
The PCT and the municipality are now waiting for government rules that will allow congress tourism to operate. “But everything depends on government measures and their relaxation, of course I think about congress tourism,” said PCT chief František Cipro.
Until now, Prague has provided, for example, internet cultural projects and broadcasts, set aside ten million crowns to buy books from Prague publishers, buys works of art and launches tickets for Nothing together with the GoOut reservation portal. “We managed to raise over three million crowns,” said Třeštíková.
At the same time, Prague will expedite requests for front gardens
The Prague Technical Administration of Roads (TSK) will also expeditiously process applications for the occupation of restaurant front gardens, which entrepreneurs submit by Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. The aim is for the occupation to be settled by Monday, when the government’s decision will allow the front gardens to reopen, the Prague City Hall said.
The management of Prague has decided that restaurant operators will be able to use the public space for front gardens free of charge due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, they have to apply for an occupation at the TSK, which is commonly commented on by other institutions, such as conservationists. It is not necessary now. “Given the emergency situation and the number of applications, it will not be exceptionally necessary to wait for approval by all institutions,” said the municipality.
According to the mayor’s deputy Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě), the current situation is extraordinary and the city does not want to burden the business with paperwork. “At the same time, all operators are asking for fair play. We are forgiving the fee, but the rules for setting up front gardens still apply, “he said.
The rules for front gardens are the strictest in the conservation area. For example, it must not have a podium or any fence in it, it must not be covered and plastic furniture is forbidden.
“I hope that yesterday’s (medium) case, when the operator took the whole sidewalk without consent and drilled parasols into the historic Sliven marble pavement directly in the monument reserve, will remain completed,” the deputy added. According to him, the case was handled by TSK on Malostranské náměstí. According to the municipality, the operator apologized and helped with the immediate paving. Even so, he will probably face a fine.