The European party capital has introduced restrictions for tourists: what is known about it

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a real paradise for tourists. People come here for the insane beauty of the architecture, rich culture, delicious beer, and numerous entertainment options. But recently, the city has seen too many visitors.

That's why the Prague authorities decided to introduce certain restrictions so that visitors would be less of a nuisance to the locals. According to Euronews, the restrictions will apply to organized tours of bars and control over short-term rental housing.

More recently, tours of Prague's bars were banned. The full restriction will be in effect from 22:00 to 6:00. This move is likely to be a serious blow to tour operators who rely on Prague's reputation as a party city. Meanwhile, locals hope that it will help reduce drunken fights and noise at night, contribute to cleaner streets, and improve the city's reputation among locals, tourists, and investors.

A few weeks earlier, the Czech government announced plans to tighten control over short-term rental housing to curb price increases and eliminate the shortage of accommodation in popular tourist destinations. In particular, it is about renting apartments through the Airbnb service – it will be significantly limited.

A bill approved by the Czech government in August will allow municipalities and cities to limit the number of rooms available through Airbnb. The move is expected to reduce real estate prices and ensure that tourists do not displace residents from popular cities such as Prague. Measures may include limiting the number of days per year during which real estate can be rented, as well as determining the minimum amount of space required for a guest.

There are also plans to introduce stricter regulations and appropriate local taxes for guest houses, Airbnb, and other vacation rental options. This will bring their market closer to that of traditional hotels.

Property owners will be required to register their accommodation and guest data through a new platform called eTurista. After that, everyone will be given a property registration number that should be displayed in accommodation listings. If approved, the new system will help strengthen oversight of short-term rentals, which are currently in a gray area of the country's economy. Currently, officials estimate that 40 to 70 percent of short-term accommodations are missed. This could result in a loss of almost 32 million euros in taxes per year. The new rules could come into effect in July 2025.

In addition to controlling rental housing, the new rules are aimed at limiting the number of tourist apartments in the city center, which in the process reduces noise levels. Currently, tourists in the Old Town cause big problems with noise at night.

Earlier this year, one of Prague's district councils proposed to ban the wearing of strange costumes at parties, as they encourage drunken and noisy behavior in Prague's popular nightlife district. Some councillors suggested that "socially unacceptable" clothing contributes to nighttime noise and disorder, especially during organized pub crawls.

In addition, in July, a ban on cars entering the Old Town between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. was introduced. This should reduce noise levels at night.

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