Estonian Business School to open branch in Helsinki

The Estonian Business School (EBS) will open a branch in Helsinki in the fall, enrolling 64 students. The purpose of the Helsinki branch is to give Finnish students the opportunity to study international business management in an English-language curriculum by correspondence in their own country, EBS said.

The Helsinki branch has enrolled 64 students, a spokeswoman for the school confirmed. “But nearly 150 applications were received, so we can say there were 2.3 hopefuls per student place.”

Lectures will be held mainly in Helsinki and once per semester in Tallinn. As the next step EBS plans to start offering master’s programs so students of the Finnish branch could pursue further education in their own country.

Rector Peeter Kross said the target group of EBS in Helsinki is young Finns whose first choice for further education is international business management in a foreign language but who are prevented from studying abroad by work or family commitments.

Source: Estonian Review

Producer price indices increased in July

According to Statistics Estonia, in July 2011 the producer price index of industrial output changed by 0.2% compared to June and by 5.2% compared to July of the previous year.

In July compared to the previous month, the producer price index was more than average influenced by the increase in prices in the production of food products, production of steam and hot water for heating and wood products.

Compared to July 2010, the biggest increase in prices was in the production of food products and refined petroleum products.

Change in the producer price index of industrial output by economic activity, July 2011

Economic activity	June 2011 – July 2011, %	July 2010 – July 2011, %
TOTAL	0.2	5.2
Energy supply	0.6	3.4
Mining	-0.7	-0.7
Manufacturing	0.2	5.7

In July 2011 the export price index increased by 1.4% compared to June 2011 and by 11.9% compared to July of the previous year.

In July compared to the previous month, the prices of mineral fuels, food and food products, plastic products and leather products increased more than average, and the prices of metals and wearing apparel decreased more than average.

In July 2011 the import price index increased by 0.2% compared to June 2011 and by 10.9% compared to July of the previous year.

In July compared to the previous month, the prices of machinery and equipment, wearing apparel and metal products increased more than average, and the prices of agricultural products, leather products and chemical and plastic products decreased more than average.

Source: Statistics Estonia

Estonia attracts African illegals

From February until August, Estonian authorities detained 31 African nationals in attempt to illegally enter Estonia from Russia.

In mid-June, two Algerian citizens managed to swim across the river that marks the border with Russia but were caught by guards on the Estonian side and handed over to Russian border authorities.

Another three attempts to cross into Estonia with fake papers were thwarted by Russian border guards at the beginning of August. 

For instance, 26 citizens of Congo and Cameroon have tried to enter Estonia using false residence permits.

Read more from BBN

Tourism in Estonia in 2011

In the first half of 2011, 767,420 foreign tourists stayed overnight in the accommodation establishments of Estonia. Their number increased by 17% or by 110,377 compared with the same period last year. 

The number of nights spent was 1.6 million (18% up on the same period of 2010). It is worth noting that in the first half of 2010, foreign overnights also increased by 16% compared with the same period of 2009. 

Thus, in 2011 inbound tourism to Estonia has increased significantly compared with 2010 which was already a record year for Estonia. The rapid increase in inbound tourism can be attributed to the substantial increase in the number of direct flights to Tallinn (mostly by Ryanair), the status of Tallinn as one of two European Capitals of Culture and the extensive media coverage of this across Europe.

Last but not least, international tourism in Europe in general is showing a strong recovery. According to UNWTO, inbound tourism to the European countries increased by 6% in the first four months of 2011 whereas foreign arrivals to Central and Eastern Europe increased by 8%. The number of foreign overnights on holiday trips increased by 23% and overnights on business trips increased by 24% while overnights on other trips decreased by 3%. In absolute figures, the biggest increase occurred in holiday tourism which accounts for the majority (2/3) of foreign overnights.

In absolute figures, tourism from Russia showed by far the biggest increase in the first half of 2011. The number of Russian tourists – 94,742 – was almost 32,000 more than a year ago. The number of tourists increased by 50% and their overnights by 54% compared with the exceptionally strong figures a year ago. It has to be remembered that Russian overnights increased by 42% already in the first half of 2010 and showed a rather good increase also in 2009. Estonia’s popularity for the Russians’ New Year holidays saw another successive increase. In January 2011 29,500 Russian tourists stayed at the hotels in Estonia, 54% more than in January 2010 and three times as many as in January 2008. However, all the other months of 2011 have also showed considerable growth from Russia. 

As in previous years, tourism from Russia continued to increase substantially in their most popular destination Tallinn (+47%) as well as in various other regions of Estonia. This reflects the active promotion by various regions and entrepreneurs, in addition to the promotional activities on the national level. Some new transport connections (incl. new bus routes to some of the regions) have also helped. Last but not least, the general outbound travel trend in Russia is also very positive. According to the Q2/2011 Quarterly Report European Tourism 2011 by the European Travel Commission, Russia continues to shine as a leading source market. Early 2011 data indicate continued, robust growth of Russian travel as arrivals have increased in all reporting European destinations. 

In the first half of 2011 the number of tourists from the largest source market, Finland, amounted to 360,795 and their overnights to 720,022. The number of tourists was 1.5% and the number of overnights 1.6% higher than a year ago. This can be considered a rather good result, given the strong base figures of the 1st half of 2010. In absolute figures, the biggest increase occurred in Tallinn where overnights increased by 2% compared with the record figures a year ago. 

With 38,253 tourists and 81,019 overnights Germany was the third largest source market for Estonia in the first half of 2011. Their overnights increased strongly (+24%) in the first half of 2011, following a rather good recovery in 2010. Two new low-cost routes (from Bremen and Düsseldorf/Weeze) have contributed to the growth. 

The number of Swedish and Norwegian tourists started to recover, after several weak years. The number of Swedish tourists – 37,829 – was 11% higher than a year ago whereas their overnights increased by 12% (in Tallinn by 17%). The number of Norwegian tourists amounted to 21,160. Arrivals from Norway increased by 28% and their overnights by 19%. The additional low-cost flights contributed to the growth in short breaks to Tallinn (the number of Norwegian tourists staying in Tallinn increased by 31% and their overnights by 23%).

With 30,353 tourists and 73,226 overnights the UK was the sixth largest source market for Estonia in terms of arrivals and the fifth biggest market in terms of overnights. After a substantial decrease in 2009 (due to the economic crisis and the reduction in air capacity), their number started to recover in 2010. In the 1st half of 2011 the number of British tourists was 90% higher than a year ago (with overnights increasing by 96%). Thus, their overnights are almost reaching the record level achieved in 2006. Several new low-cost routes from the UK are strongly contributing to the growth. Also the substantial growth from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands can be attributed to the new Ryanair routes.

TOURISM IN ESTONIA IN 2011 (as of 22 August 2011) 

The number of tourists from Latvia, the fifth largest market in terms of arrivals but the sixth largest market in terms of overnights, amounted to 35,173. Their overnights in Estonia are now only slightly below the previous record level achieved in 2008. Tallinn and Pärnu, however, have recorded results even above previous peaks. Latvian overnights in Tallinn started to recover already in the 1st quarter of 2010, while their overnights in Pärnu have continuously increased during the past seven years already. The number of Lithuanian arrivals and overnights increased by 36% in the first half of 2011, reaching a new historic record. 

DOMESTIC TOURISM IN 2011 (January-June) 

In the first half of 2011, 406,789 domestic tourists stayed overnight in the accommodation establishments of Estonia. Their number increased by 11% or by 40,143 compared with the same period last year. The number of nights spent was 714,985 (12% up on the same period of 2010). Hence, the growth trend that started in the 2nd quarter of 2010 continued, following a drop in two successive years due to the economic crisis. Overnights on holiday trips increased by 13% and overnights on business trips by 15%, whereas overnights on other trips increased by just 8%.

 TOURISM RECEIPTS

 According to the Bank of Estonia, Estonia’s tourism receipts amounted to EUR 199 mil. in the first quarter of 2011. This was 10.6% more than a year ago. Travel receipts (foreign visitors’ expenditures in Estonia) amounted to EUR 145.8 mil. This was 6.4% more than a year ago. Fare receipts (foreign visitors’ payments to Estonian transport companies) amounted to EUR 53.5 mil. or 24% more than a year ago. The sea transport receipts increased by 19% and the air transport receipts by 39%. The results of the 2nd quarter will be published in September 2011.

In the 1st half of 2011 the sales of accommodation services by all accommodation establishments amounted to 65.2 million Euros (up 23% on the same period last year). Thus, the sales of accommodation services increased somewhat more than the number of overnights (domestic and foreign overnights together increased by 16%).

Read more from visitestonia.com

LHV eyeing No 5 slot in Estonian banking

LHV Pank, which on Thursday opened its new customer service center in Tallinn and presented new debit and credit cards, aims to establish itself as the fifth largest bank in Estonia, according to its CEO.
Estonia does not have a single neighbor that didn’t have banks of its own and developed domestic banking, CEO Erki Kilu said.

“In the slightly longer-term outlook it is good when a local banking and financial market develops better in Estonia, the present weakness of which has been pointed out also by the OECD experts that
have visited Estonia,” said Kilu.

Cash withdrawals using LHV cards can be made at all ATMs paying a one-off fee of one euro.
“Our goal for the next few years is to become the fifth largest, strong bank in Estonia,” Kilu said.
Andres Kask, chief of marketing and media relations at LHV Pank, told BNS that considering the moment’s interest the bank expects to increase the number of its customers by thousands.
“Cards definitely will give a boost in terms of client numbers,” he said.

While LHV isn’t planning to set up an extensive network of offices, it cannot be ruled out that more service centers will be opened after some time, Kask added.

LHV Pank, an Estonian-equity financial institution, was established in 1999. The bank is active in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland.

Source: Estonian Review

Denmark to protect Baltic countries’ air space

Denmark will take over defense of the Baltic countries’ air space from France starting from September. Starting from September 1 the Danish Air Force, using four F-16 fighters, will take over providing air space security to the Baltic countries during the next four months, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.

The French Air Force policed the Baltic countries’ air space starting from April, taking over responsibility from Germany. France used Mirage 2000C fighters and Germany F-4F Phantom fighters to provide air space security to the Baltic countries.

NATO countries air forces have guarded the air space of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by rotation since 2004. Until today Belgian, Danish, British, Norwegian, Dutch, German, US, Polish, Turkish, Spanish, Romanian, Czech, Portuguese and French air forces have taken part in the mission.  

Source: Estonian Review

National Geographic to be published in Estonian

One of the world’s biggest non-profit scientific and educational organizations, the National Geographic
Society, said that the official magazine of the society, National Geographic, would be published in Estonian starting from this October.

The Estonian version of the National Geographic will be brought out on the basis of a National Geographic Society license; its contents will be based on the English original and it will have the
same format and the same distinctive front cover in a yellow frame. The magazine will be published by AlmaliEst, a subsidiary of the Lithuanian publishing house Alma Litera.

Erkki Peetsalu, the Estonian editor-in-chief of the National Geographic, has operated 20 years on the local media and communications scene. He is a journalism graduate from Tartu University. In the recent years he has contributed to initiatives promoting development of the civic society and awareness of the
environment.

The National Geographic, which was first published in 1888 in English, prints articles on culture, nature, science and technology. The magazine has 60 million readers throughout the world. Estonia is the 33rd local language in which the magazine will be published.

Source: Estonian Review