Tourism Department’s projects implementation progress in 2012 Project: Improving feed information for the Tourism Satellite Account of the Czech Republic The core project activity is an on‑going sample survey of inbound tourism to monitor the number and structure of foreign visitors to the Czech Republic and their tourism spendings in relation to their visit to the country. Results are published on a quarterly basis. Currently, foreign visitors are interviewed upon leaving the Czech Republic at suitable locations nearby the former border crossings (supermarkets, petrol stations, tourist attractions). The principal – though not only – user of the surveyed data is the Czech Statistical Office which uses the survey results for its regular compilation of the Tourism Satellite Account of the Czech Republic. In 2012, besides regular outcomes, outputs of regional surveys including a comparative analysis of regions for years 2009–2011 were also published. Also last year, a pilot survey took place focusing on foreign visitors coming to the Czech Republic by coach as a part of an organized tour. Outputs of the survey were incorporated in the regular surveys, helping thus improve the statistical data both at the national, but primarily at the regional level. Over CZK 15 million were used for the project; since the start of implementation until the end of 2012 the total use of funds for the project reached approximately CZK 50 million. Project: Improving quality of information on selected tourism sectors During summer 2012, the first phase of an overall survey of collective tourist accommodation establishments (field survey) took place whose key objective was in particular to define the sectors of collective and individual accommodation. At the end of the year, the second and more detailed phase of the survey followed, using direct mail questionnaires. At the same time, the first phase of travel agencies and tour operators’ survey took place across the whole Czech Republic. In the first half of this year, the results were processed which would significantly improve and complement the data published by the Czech Statistical Office on occupancy of collective accommodation establishments. The sector of individual accommodation establishments and of travel agencies will be newly quantified. The output of the surveys will be comprehensive databases of both collective and individual accommodation establishments, and of travel agencies and tour operators, serving the needs of the state (e.g. the Czech Statistical Office, the Czech National Bank) as well as the private sectors – in particular in the form of data publicly available through a web application that will reflect specific needs of its users. In 2012, the project used over CZK 11 million; since the start of implementation until the end of 2012 the total use of funds for the project reached over CZK 12 million. Project: Improving quality of information on congress and incentive tourism A successful tender took place in 2012 entitled “Statistical Survey of MICE Organisers and Venue Providers” based on which a provider of the said survey was selected. Preparation for the survey was completed in 2012, while the survey itself is to be carried out in the course of 2013. Like in previous projects, outputs of the survey (database of MICE organisers and providers, aggregate result presentations, public database) will serve the public and local administration, professional business, and all other users from among the public. In 2012, the project used CZK 558,900; since the start of implementation until the end of 2012 the total use of funds for the project reached over CZK 1.922 million. Project: Improving quality of information on the catering sector in the Czech Republic A new project was submitted in 2012 for improvement of quality of information on the catering sector in the Czech Republic whose main objective is to establish information on the numbers and distribution of stand‑alone catering facilities across the Czech Republic based on a field survey. Data obtained through the project shall extend the publicly available database of information on tourism developed based on the Ministry for Regional Development statistical projects. The collected information shall serve both statistical data users and general public. In 2012, the project used CZK 336,300. CESTOVNÍ RUCH V ČESKÉ REPUBLICE 2012 catering sector in the Czech Republic whose main objective is to establish information on the numbers and distribution of stand‑alone catering facilities across the Czech Republic based on a field survey. Data obtained through the project shall extend the publicly available database of information on tourism developed based on the Ministry for Regional Development statistical projects. The collected information shall serve both statistical data users and general public. In 2012, the project used CZK 336,300. Project: National quality system for tourism services in the Czech Republic The project is a systemic tool of the Tourism Policy and its objective is to contribute to improving the quality of tourism services in the Czech Republic. The output of the project will be a Czech Service Quality System (CSQS) which tourism and related service operators would join voluntarily; the system would help them systemically improve the quality of their services and acquire new expertise. The CSQS is developed under a licence of the German Quality System (Service Qualität Deutschland), taking also into account the European Commission’s initiative to introduce a single EU quality label as an umbrella for similar European systems. The project also involves support and further development of selected technical standards in co‑operation with selected professional associations. After the original draft was reworked, the project was approved for implementation in 2012; the system methodology was developed which comprised of a CSQS Standard and a Quality Assessment Methodology, and a new visual identity including a communication strategy until 2015 was created. In late 2012, a dedicated unit was established at the Ministry for Regional Development to become the guarantor of certification which will be launched in 2013. In 2012, the project used CZK 6.3 million, with total eligible expenditures reaching over CZK 12.779 million by the end of the year. www.csks.cz TOURISM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN 2012