Today we are talking again with Mr. Tonu Steinberg, the representative of Estonian Tourism Board in Moscow. We are speaking about opportunities for MICE tourism for Russians visiting Estonia.

Is the sphere of MICE tourism in Estonia called-for by Russians?

Year 2009 has begun successfully for Estonian tourism. According to the statistics in January the number of Russian tourists, visited Estonia, has increased on 37% in comparison with the same period of past year. In 2008, this number increased on 46% in comparison with 2007. There is a tendency of increase in demand on the part of Russian tourists, in comparison with previous recession in 2006.

Business tourism from Russia to Estonia has not reached its peak of popularity yet. However, there were created all conditions for its more active development in Estonia.

Russians need to be better informed about the present situation in Estonia. There should be more intensive promotion of Estonia as the country, offering services on business tourism.

Estonian Center of Development of Tourism supports this task and is engaged in promotion of this sphere. There is the office of Center in Moscow. Its opening in St.-Petersburg is only on target.

The share of Russians business trips to Estonia grows less intensively in comparison with common trips. The majority of business activities are held in Tallinn, but not in other cities.

What Estonian cities, except for Tallinn, could be interesting to MICE tourists? What opportunities do they possess to hold business events there?

Tartu and Parnu could be interesting in this respect as there are all necessary conditions for organization and holding of business events on their territory.

Tartu is situated near Chudskoe Lake and is the world famous University center. Since 1632 and up to these days this is the city of science and students. Scientific conferences and academic meetings of scientists from all countries of the world take place here. For today hotel sector is presented in Tartu as follows: there are 11 hotels counted on 504 apartments, 8 hotels counted on 140 apartments and 8 mini-hotels counted on 118 apartments. It is possible to accommodate about 1600 persons here and to hold activities in 35 places. «Vanemuine» Concert hall sits 1000 persons. It is possible to accommodate about 430 visitors in some halls of Tartu University. Besides there are 25 restaurants, 90 cafes, more than 50 bars and some night bars in Tartu.

Parnu is rather compact city. It will take any tourist 15 minutes to move from one part of the city to another. Conference centers, various style hotels, theatre, concert hall, some museums and galleries are situated in close to each other. Besides, there are also sports constructions and yacht club with harbor and several tens of yachts. There are some tennis and golf courts. It is possible to organize sea excursion (to the islands Kihnu and Ruhnu), to visit restaurant or night club, to take good care of oneself and have a rest in SPA hotel, or to spend perfect time in the open air. Parnu is the member of European Conference-cities Union and European Resort Cities Union.

How Russian tourists differ from others?

Unlike the visitors from other countries, Russians are more interested in cultural programs. They like to visit museums, exhibitions and theatres. As a rule, they use the excursion program and spend their evenings in restaurants and bars.

Recently it has become very popular among Russian business tourists to participate in gourmet-tours to get closer acquaintance with peculiarities of national Estonian cooking. Russian businessmen are not afraid of risk and rather often order programs of extreme sports – kayak and canoe rafting down the rivers and basins of Estonia. However, today Russian businessmen are especially interests in various creative intensive-programs, allowing to discover different sides of their participants and to reveal their hidden abilities. Besides, such activities as silk painting, ceramics, woodworking, sculptural modeling and painting holding under direction of professionals in these areas become very popular too.

Do business tourists book conference services from Estonian companies or they work with Russian tour operators?

It is difficult to say unequivocally. Clients cooperate both with Estonian and Russian companies. Russian tour operators, in turn, work with Estonian. Clients address to tour operators as they assist them to solve visa questions. However, it is necessary to note that there are clients, who independently solve questions of execution of entry visa documents and book hotels.

What measures are taken to attract business tourists from Russia to Estonia?

During last years, many conference centers and hotels were constructed in Estonia for the purposes of business tourism. Qualified service staffs who in most cases know Russian language rather good work there. This important feature distinguishes Estonia from western competitors.

It is interesting that many country estates and castles in Estonia after full restoration also have become traditional places of corporate meetings. Built in the end of 19th - beginning of 20th centuries in historical styles, country estates were recently restored into fine hotels with modern conference halls. We open remarkable hotels and clinics. We shall pay more attention and shall offer Russians more enthralling programs on their native language in addition to business events.

Unfortunately, our cultural events and festivals are little known in Russia. I mean, for example, festival of St. Birgitta, Old Town Days and International film festival «Dark Nights», which are world-famous. This April there will take place the international jazz festival Jazzkaar, which will celebrate its twentieth anniversary! Musicians from almost 20 countries will give over 30 concerts across Estonia. Besides there is the largest in region beer festival Ollesummer, and grill-festival Grillfest.

Tonu, thank you for conversation. We hope, that much more Russian tourist will visit Estonia with business calls this year in comparison with the previous one.