With Advent tourism peaking, police forces across the Czech Republic have reinforced patrols at major Christmas markets, Prague Daily News reported on 8 December. Tactical units, plain-clothes pickpocket teams and mobile vehicle-barrier systems have been deployed around Prague’s Old Town Square, Brno’s Náměstí Svobody and Ostrava’s Masaryk Square.
While the measures are described as preventive—there is no specific terror threat—authorities cite recent incidents of organised pickpocket rings targeting foreign visitors. Market operators have installed steel bollards capable of stopping 7.5-tonne vehicles, mirroring crowd-protection standards at German and Austrian markets.
![Heightened Security At Czech Christmas Markets As Crowds Swell]()
For mobility and travel-risk managers arranging seasonal incentive trips or short-term assignments, the visible security presence may reassure employees but also lengthen entry queues at peak times. Companies should remind staff to keep passports secure and use cashless payments; theft of ID documents remains a leading cause of delayed departures from Schengen states.
The intensified policing will remain in place until 6 January, coinciding with the orthodox Christmas period when visitor numbers stay high. City halls have coordinated with tourism boards to maintain festive ambience—armed officers are instructed to adopt a “low-profile” stance except during crowd surges.
Inbound tour operators report that hotel bookings in Prague are running at 92 % occupancy for the week of 15 December, surpassing 2019 levels, underscoring the markets’ importance to the country’s winter tourism economy and the need for smooth, safe visitor flows.
While the measures are described as preventive—there is no specific terror threat—authorities cite recent incidents of organised pickpocket rings targeting foreign visitors. Market operators have installed steel bollards capable of stopping 7.5-tonne vehicles, mirroring crowd-protection standards at German and Austrian markets.
For mobility and travel-risk managers arranging seasonal incentive trips or short-term assignments, the visible security presence may reassure employees but also lengthen entry queues at peak times. Companies should remind staff to keep passports secure and use cashless payments; theft of ID documents remains a leading cause of delayed departures from Schengen states.
The intensified policing will remain in place until 6 January, coinciding with the orthodox Christmas period when visitor numbers stay high. City halls have coordinated with tourism boards to maintain festive ambience—armed officers are instructed to adopt a “low-profile” stance except during crowd surges.
Inbound tour operators report that hotel bookings in Prague are running at 92 % occupancy for the week of 15 December, surpassing 2019 levels, underscoring the markets’ importance to the country’s winter tourism economy and the need for smooth, safe visitor flows.
