Prague announces ban affecting UK tourists in 'ridiculous' crackdown

Prague has proposed a "ridiculous and slightly embarrassing" way to deter British stag groups from visiting the city. Prague wants to ban fancy dress in a blow to British stag dos and hen parties who head to the European Union holiday hotspot.

Councillors in the central Prague 1 district want city leaders to consider the ban to discourage foreign stag and hen groups, believing it will help reduce noise pollution for residents. But Matt Mavir, managing director at Last Night of Freedom, which sends thousands of customers to Prague every year, said the proposal was “just silly”.

“Like the over-zealous and unworkable ‘stag ban’ in Amsterdam, the only thing I can see this latest proposal doing is encouraging even more people to book a stag or hen do in Prague,” said Matt, who has organised 50,000 weekends during 25 years in the industry," he said. “For a start, how could this sort of ban ever be enforced? Who decides what is or isn’t outrageous? It’s ridiculous and slightly embarrassing.

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“The vast majority of stag and hen groups are respectful and go to Prague and other destinations to have fun. There are already established laws in place to deal with offensive items, so I can’t see what use a ban on fancy dress costumes would serve.”

“Prague has always been among our very top destinations for stags to escape into hedonism, and I can’t ever see that changing. There’s just so much to do, see and experience,” Matt continued. “It’s a beautiful and wonderfully welcoming city, but a few short-sighted officials should be careful not to demonise tourists and potentially jeopardise a vital and profitable industry.

“Stag and hen dos are the bedrock of a healthy tourism industry, especially when properly organised, and they bring fun, vibrancy and a massive economic benefit to Prague. It could be very harmful to turn away such a valuable market, and I’d urge the councillors discussing these plans to think again.”

Adam Zábranský, the councillor for property, transparency and legislation, said: “We understand the frustration with pub crawls and drunken tourists, but imposing a ban on silly costumes seems excessive.”