CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague 

Belgicka 42 
12000 Vinohrady
Prague 2
Czech Republic

Email:
prague@ibng.com

Contact person: Greg Coyle

 

General Information

Country (name in full):	Czech Republic
Capital:	Praque
Surface Area:	78,866 sq km
Official Languages:	Spanish
Population:	10,235,455 (July 2006 est.)
Exchange Rates:	Real Time Converter
Real GDP Growth:	6.1% (2005 est.)
GDP per capita:	purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2005 est.)
Head of State:	President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
Head of Government:	Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 4 September 2006)

 

Principal Trading Partners

Export Destinations
Germany 33.5%, Slovakia 8.7%, Austria 5.5%, Poland 5.5%, France 5.3%, UK 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2005)

Import Destinations
Germany 30%, Russia 5.7%, Slovakia 5.4%, China 5.1%, Poland 5%, Italy 4.8%, France 4.5%, Netherlands 4% (2005)

 

Czech Republic Overview

Geography & Population
Historically, the Czech Republic has been predominantly under the influence of Western culture. The official language is Czech and the population is over 10 million (94 per cent Czech and two per cent Slovak), with the capital Prague, home to 1.2 million people.

Czechs are usually family oriented and tend to be friendly, open to new things and easy to deal with. In their leisure time they enjoy playing sports, travelling, and socialising in pubs and bars.

Czech Republic is located Central Europe, southeast of Germany.

Language
The official language is Czech.

Government and Law

The political and social situation in the Czech Republic has been stable since it was established in 1993.  The Czech Republic became a full member of NATO in 1999 and participates in supporting NATO countries in areas such as Kuwait and the former Yugoslavia.

The Czech Republic is a democratic country, founded after the former Czechoslovakia was divided into two separate countries in 1993.  The Parliament of the Czech Republic is bicameral consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The government does not have a parliamentary majority, and must rely on cooperation with other parties to pass legislation.

The legal system is based on civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring in line with Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory.

Climate
The Czech Republic is a country of four seasons in the temperate climate zone of Central Europe, which makes for pleasantly mild weather with moderate amounts of precipitation. Air pollution is often experienced in mid-winter due to traffic emissions in large cities.

Religion
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Czech Republic Calendar

Business travellers to the Czech Republic should note that the Czech Republic enjoys a wide range of public holidays due to religious, national and other festive events. 

IBN clients are recommended to consult with their regional Business Centres to obtain more specific regional travel advice in relation to public holidays as they may impact upon visit schedules.

Exhibitions and Conferences

IBN clients should consult their regional Business Centre for detailed information on exhibitions and conferences including exhibiting, booking requirements etc.

For a useful link on exhibition details, please visit the Fair Guide - www.fairguide.com.

To contact us, click here.

Travel Information

The high tourist season begins in May and ends in September. Christmas is also considered to be high season. If you plan to visit the Czech Republic during these periods, it is advisable to book your hotel accommodation well ahead.

Prague’s Ruzyne International Airport is situated 16 kilometres northwest of the city centre. For flight departure information call the airport’s 24-hour hotline on +42 2 2011 5433 (English speaking operators are available). Travel time between the city centre and the terminal is 25–40 minutes by taxi or shuttle, and 50–60 minutes by public transport. There are a number of transport options:

Taxis
Taxis are the most convenient, but also the most expensive. The airport is serviced by a dedicated operator whose taxis charge about Kc600 to the centre, or about Kc400 to Dejvicka metro station.

Shuttles
Shuttles are a comfortable and affordable mode of transport from the airport. A shuttle service called CEDAZ provides an hourly service in white vans between the terminal and Namesti Republiky metro station in the central square in Prague. The fare is Kc90 per person to the predetermined drop-off at Namesti Republiky. CEDAZ also provides a shuttle service to many central hotels for Kc360 (one to four people) or Kc720 (five to eight people). Shuttles run daily 5.30pm–9.30pm.

Public Bus
Bus 119 is a cheap, but somewhat cumbersome alternative. This bus leaves from the covered island in the airport parking lot and takes you right to Dejvicka metro station and from there you can be at a central metro station in 15 minutes. You have to buy tickets from an airport machine or newsstand, as you are not able to pay on the bus. Tickets are Kc12 per adult plus Kc6 per large luggage item and tickets must be stamped on the bus.

The following information is provided to assist travellers when planning to visit Czech Republic:

IDD:                                                      +420
Time:                                                    GMT +1 - +2 (Mar - Sep)
Voltage:                                                 220V
Cell Phone System:                                 Dual Band system (GSM and CDMA)
Dress:                                                    Business Suit
Taxi Fare to city from airport (average):     Various
Departure tax:                                        Yes

Foreign Visa Requirements

Most passport holders both on business and leisure require a visa to enter the Czech Republic. It is necessary to apply at least five working days before you travel. You must apply outside of the country as visas cannot be obtained at the airport in the Czech Republic or at the border.

Health Considerations

There are no special vaccinations recommended. Tap water is good, but it is recommended that visitors drink bottled water. Medical treatment or any other medical care for foreigners is provided at the respective health centres nearest to the hotel or place of accommodation. English speaking doctors can be found and treatment is administered at mutually agreed prices in koruna (Kc). Free treatment is provided only to foreigners from countries with inter-governmental agreements with the Czech Republic, which is not the case with Australia.

A travel insurance policy that covers medical treatment abroad is highly recommended and you should carry your insurance policy on you. If you have a medical problem, you may need to quickly confirm your insured status to assistance providers. Generally, you should expect to pay the bill and then seek reimbursement from your insurance company. Emergency treatment and non-hospital first aid (extreme cases) are available free-of-charge to all guests of the Czech Republic. Call ‘Zachranna sluzba’ (Emergency service) by dialling 155 from anywhere in the Czech Republic.

Local Currency

The Czech monetary system consists of the Crown (‘Koruna’), comprising in 100 Hellers (‘haler’). Coins are issued in 10, 20, 50 Heller pieces, and one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 Crown pieces. Notes in circulation are of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 Crown denominations.

To use our Real-Time Converter, click here. 

Useful Links

Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Czech Republic - www.czech.cz
Doing Business in the Czech Republic - www.doingbusiness.cz
CzechTrade - www.czechtrade.cz
Prague Post - http://www.praguepost.cz

Disclaimer

Whilst IBN Group Pty Ltd (IBN) has taken due care to obtain and provide the country information detailed on this site, it cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the same information and data. As this country information and data has been received from various sources, accepted by IBN as being reliable, IBN itself makes no representation concerning its completeness, truth or accuracy or its suitability for any particular purposes.