Prague - The number of travel agencies in the Czech Republic is rather unexpectedly on the rise. Since the beginning of 2007 more than a hundred new ones appeared out of the blue.
"As of 31 December 2006, we had 833 travel agencies with an insurance contract registered. Now, the number is 946," said Radomíra Kotlárová from press center of Ministry for Regional Development.
Unexpected rise
For many experts, this is a surprise. Five years ago they have been expecting a decline, since the figure had been already quite high at that time.
The Czech Republic already has the highest number of travel agencies per capita in Europe. And it seems there is still room for more.
There are probably two main reasons for this. First, it is the favorable CZK exchange rate that enables more and more people to travel even as often as several times a year.
In addition, insurance for travel agencies has been gradually getting cheaper. And there may be one more explanation.
"Frequently, newly registered travel companies are not entirely new to the tourist industry," said Tomio Okamura, spokesman of Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents of the Czech Republic (AČCKA).
Insurance does the trick
"According to our data, it seems that travel agencies transform themselves to full-fledged companies by getting properly insured," Okamura explained.
By law, every travel agency has to be insured against bankruptcy. The updated list of insured travel offices can be viewed at the Local Development Ministry´s web site. A client can also require to see the travel office´s insurance certificate. If there is none, the client should not pursue buying the holiday from the agency.
Travel agencies, the total number of which in the Czech Republic is roughly 1,500, don't have this obligation.
According to the AČCKA, new travel offices specialize in companies´ get-together meetings abroad as well as in "adrenaline" tourism.
