Analytics, Estonia, Markets and Companies, Tourism

According to the new survey by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research made, in May demand in Tallinn's restaurants was 13% lower than a year earlier.

Felix Mägus, CEO and shareholder of Nordic Hotel Forum, one of the leading hotels in Tallinn, says that all signs show that in the accommodation business, summer 2013 will be weaker than summer 2012," said Mägus.

Speaking of causes for falling demand for hotel rooms, Mägus says that one of the key reasons is lack of economic confidence in Sweden and Finland, as well as problems linked to Estonian Air, and the lack of large-scale international events.

Loodmaa says that the number of domestic tourists has stopped growing, but added that he also remains moderately optimistic.

Hotels in Tartu are also dependent on the number of events organised by the Tartu University and City of Tartu.

Most hotel operators say that it is difficult to plan ahead because customers make last-minute decisions.

As reported, the Estonian Hotels and Restaurants' Union will this year evaluate ten new hotels in the common European new grading system Hotelstars Union that was created three years ago.

Six Hotelstars star-system accommodation establishments are located in Estonia now but in the coming years that number will be increased considerably, said the union.

The evaluation committee will visit hotels Telegraaf, St. Petersbourg, Strand Spa and Conference Hotel, Ülemiste Hotel, Saaremaa Hotel and Pädaste manor and hotels London and Pallas in Tartu.

Triik explained that the advantage of the common international grading system is transparency and comparability which makes choosing the accommodation establishments easier for domestic and foreign tourists.

According to Statistics Estonia, in February 2013, 160,000 domestic and foreign tourists stayed in the accommodation establishments of Estonia, which was five% more than in February 2012.

The number of domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists increased.

In February, 91,000 foreign tourists used the services of accommodation establishments, which was 6,000 tourists (7%) more than in same period a year ago. Most of the foreign tourists (87%) stayed in the accommodation establishments of Tallinn, Tartu and Parnu. More foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in these cities than last year (respectively 7%, 10% and 9% more).

In February, 43% of the clients of accommodation establishments were domestic tourists. 69,000 domestic tourists used the services of accommodation establishments, which was more than 2,000 domestic tourists more than in February 2012. Twenty-eight% of domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments in Harju county, 15% in Parnu county, 11% in Tartu county, and nine% in Ida-Viru county. More than a half of the domestic tourists were on holiday and almost a third were on business trips.

In February, 835 accommodation establishments with 17,000 rooms and 38,000 bed-places were available for tourists.