The Czech capital of Prague plans to ban guided pub crawls after nightfall in a bid to crack down on loud, drunken tourists who crowd the popular holiday destination, the city has announced.
The pub crawls are particularly popular with tourists from the U.S. and the UK, and usually involve visiting a series of bars across the city for a fixed fee and led by a tour guide.
The municipal regulation will come into force at the beginning of November, and will apply from 10p.m. until 6a.m.
Prague officials contended the boozy tours have a negative impact on public spaces and have become a detriment to locals.
“With the updated market regulations, we have an effective tool to ensure order and tackle excessive noise in the streets and other negative effects on local residents.’’
The mayor of Prague’s first district, Terezie Radomerska, said on Monday.
Local authorities are promoting more cultured tourism in the city centre.
Radomerska said that, with theatres, cafés, restaurants and galleries, the area has other attractions to offer than just alcohol consumption.
Regular tour guides with groups will not be affected by the rules.
Several tour providers expressed disbelief and frustration about the decision.
A spokesman for one tourism company that offers pub crawls accused local politicians of trying to score “cheap political points,’’ according to the CTK news agency.
The guide spokesman said tourist groups traveling unaccompanied by a tour guide would cause much more noise.
It is unclear whether the decision would be challenged in court.
Last year, more than 7.4 million visitors stayed in Prague for at least one night, more than five times as many people as live in the city.
Germans make up the largest group of visitors at 17.6 per cent, followed by tourists from the U.S., the UK and neighbouring Slovakia.
However, tourism in Prague remains below the levels hit before the Coronavirus pandemic.
dpa/NAN
