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%).

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