On Monday, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts replied to the interpellation concerning Enterprise Estonia, submitted by Members of the Riigikogu. When speaking about the advertising campaign directed to the Russian market, launched by Enterprise Estonia, the Minister pointed out the increase in the number of Russian tourists which, according to the preliminary data, amounted to 15 per cent in the last year.

“On a wider scale, it can be said that Russia is one of the fastest growing markets for Estonia in terms of tourism today, and the competition for tourists travelling out of Russia is very tough. We have made a good development in that regard in recent years and I dare say that the work of Enterprise Estonia has definitely played a role in that, involving different partners and also making its own contribution,” Parts said from the rostrum in the chamber of the Riigikogu.

In Parts’s words, the number of tourists from Russia in the accommodation establishments of Estonia has increased by more than twice in the last four years. “The number of tourists from Russia in the accommodation establishments of Estonia exceeded 300 000 last year. The growth was 15 per cent as compared to the previous year, according to the preliminary data,” Parts added.

The Minister stated that he had heard different opinions on the video clips that had been directed to the Russian market and shown at the end of last year. After all, Enterprise Estonia is a professional and independent tourism agency. “However, such black-and-white responses or differing responses should probably indicate to the tourism agency that it needs to better prepare these advertisements before it goes to the market, anticipating also possible negative responses,” Parts added.

During the open microphone, Heimar Lenk, Mihhail Stalnuhhin and Yana Toom took the floor.

The verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian).