Cesky Krumlov - The southern Bohemian city located on the Vltava River is one of the Czech Republic's tourism icons. This year's flood was much less devastating to Cesky Krumlov than the catastrophe from 2002, whose damage was estimated at approximately CZK 380 million (EUR 14.7 million). Initial estimates put the damage done by this year's floods at approximately one third of the 2002 sum. Unlike in 2002, not one single inhabitant of Cesky Krumlov and adjacent municipalities had to be evacuated this year. Deputy Mayor Jitka Zikmundova said that the city hall had learned from the 2002 flood.
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The city is now counting on tourism revenues to contribute to the recovery. "We will need tourists to help us. Please report that most of the housing, cultural and touristic services are operating," said Zikmundova to journalists, adding that most cultural events scheduled for the following weeks will take place in spite of the floods.
So far it appears that the city has not suffered any drop in tourist activity. On the contrary, it is full of foreign visitors, as is normal for the month of June. "I am sorry, we are full," said a waiter in one of Cesky Krumlov's most renowned restaurants.
"In the past days, we have answered a number of questions from travel agencies and tourists about the situation in the city. We tell them that they can come without any fear," said an employee at Cesky Krumlov's tourist information center, adding that the number of people who have visited the city in the past days is not very different from the same period last year. More people were probably dissuaded by cold weather and rains, rather than by the fear of floods, she said.
Other Czech flood-hit cities that depend on tourism are in the same situation. They are hoping that the natural disaster will not dissuade holiday-goers from visiting the country. Especially Prague, which was affected much more than Cesky Krumlov.
