A group of influential business leaders in Prague have launched an organization focused on drawing attention to the financial devastation the coronavirus crisis is having on the city center. The founding members include the owners and founders of companies such as the Alcron hotel and the Zatisi Catering Group. They warn that the only way to prevent the collapse of the tourist sector in attractive locations like Prague and other Czech towns is carefully targeted state support. The group says it will work closely with leaders from Prague 1 to map the damage being caused by the crisis to the economy of the downtown area. Failure to do so, they warn, could lead to as much as CZK 220 billion in losses. Prague is the sixth most visited city in Europe and 62 percent of all foreign visitors come to the city. The group is calling on special support for the capital as well as other key tourist destinations such as Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary and Cheb. The group points out that Prague created CZK 46 billion in added value in 2018 and that the tourism sector in Prague alone directly employs 74,000 people.
