It must be hugely satisfying to be declared the 6th most peaceful country in the world according to the latest Global Peace Index of the Institute for Economics and Peace. What makes the Czech Republic a nation of peace?

It is due to the nature of people. We are open minded people. I wish we had more places like this. I wish all people across the globe live in peace, and can live decent lives. In our country you can feel traditional Czech hospitality. We have always been instrumental in developing friendly relations with domestic and foreign partners. We have put in place reasonable guarantees for people to live in safe and secure conditions. The index you referred reflects certain criteria set by this organization. That also reflects impression of those who visit, whether you are in Prague, or any other major city.

For Indian travellers, what are the major tourism opportunities in the Czech Republic?

Pardon me being so patriotic, but Prague definitely is a very historical and beautiful place. Our previous generations have worked hard for what has been created. It is their vision, their values. While visiting and meeting people in Prague is a must, tourists must at least be ready to travel a bit. There are so many places, and these places do not require a lot of travel. They are easily reachable. Depending very much on what you are interested you can take your pick. If it is natural wonders that you are interested in, just visit our mountains, lakes, rivers. It is history, visit some historical places, we have so many mystical, spiritual places, and plenty of castles and chateaus. And then if you are looking for something specific like golf, then you can come and enjoy one of the most beautiful golf resorts. You can try spa. We have so many resorts that combine tradition historical values with high quality treatment offered to those who need it, or those who want to use it as a kind of prevention. Czech Republic is famous for glass, in areas north of Prague you can visit those places of glass making. Czech glass is used in a major way in India’s international airports and big hotels. Also our jewellery is famous, and I think Czech Republic has something to offer for every generation of visiting tourist.

Are you promoting the Czech Republic in India?

Since my arrival, we have opened 6 new visa application centres, one each in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. We would like to have three more by the end of this year. The idea is that people must travel less to get their visas, they can apply for short-term Schengen visa closer home. While I was in Prague last August (2016), I could see the presence of more Indian tourists. I believe the potential is very hight. We are exploring the idea of restoring a direct flight between the two countries.