Foreign Affairs Minister Cyril Svoboda told reporters March 19 that the Czech Republic needs to step up checks on tourists from these countries to confirm whether their passports have been properly stamped, whether they have enough money to cover their stay and whether they have health insurance coverage of at least $35,000 (833,700 Kč).

"We seriously suspect these rules are being massively violated," he said.

Czechs need a visa to visit the three countries named — a major sore spot among the government and residents. In contrast, Americans, Canadians and Australians do not need visa for stays up to 90 days in the Czech Republic. Svoboda, while demanding that the European Union renew pressure on those countries to relax visa restrictions for Czechs, hinted that many Westerners stay beyond 90 days and some obtain work here illegally.

His remarks were seen largely as a slap in the face of the United States, which the government considers as having by far the worst record of the three countries named for granting Czechs visas. And Svoboda's statements came just as a major five-day convention of U.S. travel agents convened in Prague March 21.

A March 22 seminar at the conference was titled: "Getting More Business from the United States."

Conference attendees were forwarded a letter from CzechTourism before their arrival here, saying, among other things, to be prepared to show proof of travel insurance covering them for at least $30,000.

In an interview with The Prague Post, Rostislav Vondruška of CzechTourism said Svoboda's comments, if backed by actual enforcement measures, would affect tourism. No such implementation plan has been announced yet, however.

"The current [visa] situation is one-sidedly advantageous for American and Canadian tourists and quite humiliating for Czech citizens," Vondruška said.

The U.S. Embassy said 300,000 U.S. citizens visit the Czech Republic each year.

If each spent just $100 during his or her stay — a conservative estimate for even one day in Prague — the resulting $30 million translates into major cash flow for local businesses. U.S. citizens make up roughly 6 percent of all foreign tourists here, according to CzechTourism.

But if the tourism industry is waiting for fallout from Svoboda's statements, others are questioning just how genuine they were in the first place. In an election year it pays to resonate among voters, political analysts say, especially if you belong to the Christian Democrats, who are currently trailing in the polls.

"Definitely this is pre-election rhetoric," said observer Zdeněk Zbořil. "It's something Czech voters will love to hear, at least those who visit or want to visit the United States."

Even Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek, who said he supports Svoboda, added that "it is a pity" the foreign affairs minister decided to take this stand so close to June's election instead of a year ago.

But not everyone in the government is behind Svoboda. Interior Minister František Bublan, whose office oversees borders and customs, sharply criticized the foreign affairs minister, saying there is no feasible way to carry out such thorough monitoring of tourists. He added that all countries outside the EU should be treated equally.

Meanwhile Jan Krč, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Prague, has issued a conciliatory statement: "If the Czech Republic intends to institute special checks on its borders, it is their right to do so and we will respect that."