Tourism Services Accounted for 7.4 Percent of Estonia's Exports in 2012

The share of tourism services in the export of goods and services from Estonia was 7.4% in 2012, Estonian Tourist Board said. The total value of export of tourism services was 1.24 billion euros last year, according to data from the Bank of Estonia. Exports were bigger by 32 million euros or 2.7% than the previous high from 2011. The export of travel services, or spending by foreign visitors in Estonia, grew 6% year on year to 950 million euros.

Foreign visitors paid Estonian transport companies 286 million euros in 2012, 6.6% less than in 2011. Payments to shipping companies decreased 1.4% and payments to airlines fell 31%. During the year, 1.87 million foreign visitors stayed at accommodation establishments in Estonia, 3.6% more than in 2011.

Foreign tourists spent 3.82 million nights in Estonia overall, 2% more than in 2011. In the two previous years the annual rate of growth was 17%. In 2012, tourism received a boost from new transport connections, aftermath of media coverage of the European Capital of Culture 2011, marketing by the private and public sector, and an overall upward trend in European tourism, Tarmo Mutso, chief of Estonian Tourist Board, said in a press release.

Just like in 2011, the number of tourists from Russia and of the nights spent by them in Estonian accommodation establishments grew the most last year, including in all counties of Estonia. The number of Russian tourists was 266 192, 31 % bigger than in the year before.

The share of the Finnish market in incoming tourism declined and overnight stays by Finns accounted for 43% of all overnight stays by foreign tourists. Finnish tourists numbered 829 225, 1.4% fewer than in 2011. A factor reducing demand was the rise of the prices of accommodation services to almost the pre-crisis level.

Third place in incoming tourism belonged to Germany. Altogether German tourists spent 111 251 nights in accommodation establishments of Estonia, 7% more than a year ago. The increase in the number of nights spent by German tourists was the biggest in Tallinn.