3. 1 Programmes Funded under the State Budget 3. 1. 1 National Tourism Support Programme Objectives and Focus of the Programme Tourism is a cross-cutting industry impacting regional development, labour market, small- and medium-sized enterprises, trade, culture, transport, environment, health care, diversification of activities in rural areas and others. The Ministry of Regional Development has strived to create appropriate conditions for its sustainable development. Tourism in the Czech Republic contributes to: 2.7% of the overall GDP (CZK 102,631 million) – 2012 data; 4.51% of the overall employment in the Czech Republic, i.e. it employs 231,000 persons; 3.5% of the overall collection of taxes generated in tourism – CZK 14,155 million; inbound tourism contributes to the largest share of funds, 2013 FX income from tourism amounted to CZK 137,946 million; 6.5% of the total State Budget revenues; public budgets (taxes, insurance, etc.). The data indicate that domestic tourism plays an important role in the State Budget revenues. The more Czechs spend their leisure time in the Czech Republic, the lower “lost profit” of public budgets. The better the conditions for tourism in the Czech Republic, the more travellers are offered higher quality of services and more opportunities to use various activities in tourism, the higher increase of benefits arising from tourism. Provision of tourism services leads to multiplication effects related to other products and services directly or indirectly linked to tourism which is also worth mentioning. It is an industry linked to many other economic activities (transport, accommodation, restaurants, production of promotional items, protection of cultural historic and natural heritage, etc.) and it plays an important role in development of municipalities, towns and regions of the Czech Republic. One of the implementation tools for the National Tourism Policy Concept of the Czech Republic for the period 2007–2013 was the National Tourism Support Programme (hereinafter the “Programme”) for entrepreneurs for smaller-sized investment projects (CZK 250,000–5 million). State aid of up to 50% of eligible costs is provided under the de minimis rules. In 2013 the Programme was implemented through the Accessible Travel for All sub-programme. The Accessible Travel for All sub-programme focuses of reconstruction/building of rest areas, tourist service centres and sanitary facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled tourists along hiking paths, nature trails, bike trails and backbone routes intended to increase the number of visitors; accessibility of tourist attractions (attractions of supra-regional and regional importance) – city bicycles, wheelchair step climbers, environmentally friendly transport to/from and within the attraction; introduction/improvement of navigation and information systems for tourists with sensory disability in order to improve and facilitate movement within tourist attractions for all visitors, including those with disabilities, and thus improve the quality of the experience from visiting the attraction. Each supported and implemented project must include also marketing (promotion) of the created product. Examples of Successfully Implemented Projects in 2012/2013 The Kutná Hora Accessible to All project created a navigation and information system for visitors of the historical centre of Kutná Hora. Information kiosks, enabling also to download an application for smartphones, contain a map of the whole navigation system in the town, including main tourist attractions. All is designed with respect to specific needs of children, disabled persons, persons with impaired sight and the blind, persons with impaired hearing and the deaf. The smartphone application contains an information database on important sights, locations and events held in the town also as an audio file for persons with impaired sight. The orientation information system is complemented by printed maps, guides, six information boards at main parking areas with a map and the navigation system and the option of downloading the application. A public toilet was newly opened in the built-up area of the town of Odry within the Odry Public Toilets at Kostelní street project. It is located in the vicinity of museums, the chateau park and the square. The toilets for men and women, including a separate shower, are all barrier-free, accessible through an automated coin entrance system or the eurokey. Information and Navigation System for Persons with Sensory Disabilities is located at the Railway Kingdom. Thanks to the system, the exhibition of the largest model railway of the Czech Republic can be enjoyed also by persons with sight and hearing impairment and also the comfort for senior citizens and small children has been improved. The system can “read” what is going on on the rails. Texts and images at kiosks can be zoomed in, and there are also: audio files; videos in the Czech sign language; printed materials in Braille; available to the visitors. The technical system comprises a network of 27 omnidirectional cameras located above the rails linked to nine information kiosks with touch screens. The disabled participated in the implementation of the project by providing consultancy services. The project of Building the Rest Area by the Tourist Route at the Heart of Czech Canada was completed in 2013. Tourists will thus get an attractive rest area with an observation deck at 33.3 meters, seating and an information board with interesting facts about Czech Canada. The rest area offers its visitors a unique experience with the view of the surrounding area with beautiful nature full of forests, ponds and numerous water flows in the vicinity of Valtínov. The National Tourism Support Programme was extended in 2013 to two more years – 2014 and 2015. The Ministry of Regional Development is negotiating the extension of the Programme supported activities by additional sub-programmes in 2015–2020 with potential increase of available funding within the Programme. Update: In 2014 a total of 73 applications for grant were received, the Minister for Regional Development decided to provide the grant to 33 projects with the total allocation of CZK 51.8 million from the State Budget and four projects were selected as substitute projects.