Petr Kulhánek, the governor of the Karlovy Vary region, studied at the University of Economics in Prague with a focus on corporate economy and management. He also had two stints abroad at Foothill College in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Australian Pacific College in Sydney. He worked at the likes of HOPI Logistic, publishing house Promenáda Vos and Hofírek Consulting, but also started a political career.
In 2006, he first became a member of the Karlovy Vary City Council, from 2010 to 2018, he served as the mayor of the city of Karlovy Vary. In 2012, he also became a member of the Karlovy Vary Region council. And since 2020, he has been serving as the governor of the Karlovy Vary region.
He talked to ‘s global business editor Georg Szalai about the cultural history of the region, refocusing it away from mining, the big Hollywood productions that have shot in the region, and his vision for the future. The Karlovy Vary Region is currently undergoing a significant transformation away from the mining industry. Known for its natural beauty and healing springs, the spa towns have always been protected from the effects of mining.
However, the Sokolov area has been heavily affected by it. Now, the region is being reclaimed, and its climate is among the cleanest in the Czech Republic. Mariánské Lázně has even been newly recognized as a climate spa, meeting very strict environmental standards.
In 2021, three of our spa sites — Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázne�.
