Number of EU tourists down in Czech Republic

The number of tourist from EU countries visiting the Czech Republic has been falling, this year reaching the lowest level since 2000, data from government agency Czech Tourism and the Czech Statistical Office have shown. Tourists from Western Europe are being replaced by visitors from Central and Eastern Europe, mainly from Poland, Russia and the Baltic States. In the first six month of this year, tourists from western countries made up 56 percent of all tourists, compared to over 66 percent in the year 2000. Experts attribute the decrease to an economic slowdown in Western Europe and say a further drop is not expected.