# Current development of tourism and recreation on Baltic Sea coasts: new directions and perspectives

Polina Lemenkova

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## To cite this version:

Polina Lemenkova. Current development of tourism and recreation on Baltic Sea coasts: new directions and perspectives. The Image and Sustainability of Tourist Destinations, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Nov 2013, Peniche, Portugal. pp.37, 10.13140/RG.2.2.32186.44486. cel-01991163

HAL Id: cel-01991163

https://hal.science/cel-01991163

Submitted on 28 Jan 2019

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Current development
of tourism and
recreation
on Baltic Sea coasts:
new directions and
perspectives

Polina Lemenkova

Charles University in Prague

Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies.
# Summary: Main research questions

- What are the major trends in the current recreation activities in Baltic Sea?

- How the tourism in the post-USSR countries (Estonia) is developing after the 1990s?

- Is the an environmental balance between the nature and human activities?
**Study area:**
**Pärnu County, Estonia**

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Estonia within the EU.

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District of Pärnu in Estonia
## Specific features of study area

The region of Pärnu is valuable environmental and unique recreational part of Estonia.

1. Mild marine climate condition

2. Precious coniferous forests.

3. Landscapes: richness, biodiversity, variability and unique composition structure.

Example of types of landscapes:

- mixed and broadleaved forests,

- coniferous forests

- agricultural landscapes,

- wooded meadows,

- heathland, bogs and moors,

- shrublands and grasslands,

- birch-dominating coastal areas

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Estonian coniferous forest.</figcaption></figure>

Photo: author 17:45
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>LuitemaaNature Conservation Area.
Photos: author.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>Lake landscape. Western Estonia.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>Pine forests in Pärnu district</figcaption></figure>
# What is specific for Pärnu Bay as a tourism destination place ?

1) environmental value of the region (e.g. pine forests)

2) advantageous location on the Baltic coasts

3) facilities for tourism and long-year tradition

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

Beach at the Pärnu Bay. Photo: author.
# Comparison of modern touristic system in Estonia with Soviet one
Estonian Tourism in early XX.
Quick historic overview.

Late XIX: the history of Estonian Baltic starts.
(Estonia-under protection of Russian Empire).

First World War 1914-18: the development of the
resort was restricted.

1920s: quick re-development of tourism (e.g
Rannapark was restored, new mud baths
constructed).
## 1930s: Active development of tourism

Late 1920s – 1930s: Estonian hotels and restaurants - one of the cheapest touristic destinations in Baltic Europe.

Active advertisements of Estonian resorts in the tourist literature of Europe.

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Pärnu beach in the 1930</figcaption></figure>
Easy access to Baltic coasts in 1920s was facilitated by good railway communication with **Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania**.

As a consequence, the Pärnu region was widely visited by various international guests:

**Scandinavians (Swedes, Finns), Poles, Germans, Brits.**

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>Old picture of Pärnu beach. 1920s.</figcaption></figure>

Source: www.theeuropeanlibrary.org
# Epoch of Soviet period.

## I. Negative moments:

During the totalitarian era of USSR the tourism industry in Baltic Sea region has been diminished.

Among negative features of Soviet tourism...:

* restrictions upon foreign tourism in Pärnu region,

* poor management in the Soviet planned economy

* bad service facilities & undeveloped hotelier tradition

The business of private hotels and restaurants **diminished drastically**.

The existing touristic hotels were **reconstructed** to the **imperatively state-controlled** and **dictated**.

Existing organizations were merged into the “All Union Voluntary Society for Proletarian Tourism and Excursions”.
Epoch of Soviet period.

II. Positive consequences:

However, there were some positive moments of
this era as well. To mention them... :

1) environmental protection: the coasts and beaches in Pärnu region were protected as “public health zone” for recreation, where only selected activities were permitted and vehicles prohibited.

2) reconstruction and maintenance of selected hotels. The most precious parts and areas of the Baltic Sea were protected and served as summer vacation places for high political leaders and for the employees from the strategic industrial sectors: spacecraft and cosmos exploration.
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The Cosmonauts Hotel, a former Soviet resort for workers of space industry (www.kosmonautika.ee): maintaining history and cosmos topic in hotel design. Famous soviet cosmonaut Y.Gagarin was guest in this hotel.

Photos: author.
What happened after the
socio-political changes in
1990s ?

The end of the USSR epoch caused great
economical and sociopolitical reformation of
Estonia.

Estonia survived a difficult period of re-
structuring of economic and social system.

Alike to other post-soviet countries, this
caused ...

- changes in the socio-economic structure,

- changes in the administrative regime

- changes in the touristic cluster.
Rapid socio-economic
development in Estoni
caused...

1) active formation of the middle-class society

2) personal economic growth

3) new style of life, increased well-being

4) increased Nr. of cars and private property

5) intensive constriction of private hotels,
hostels, guesthouses, cottages for rent...
# Consequences of globalization: Estonia – a part of world society

## Consequences of globalization in tourism sector:

1) tourist flows into various country destinations

2) increasing world trade development

3) internationalization of production of food, goods, etc

4) improved hotel management system

5) improved touristic services

6) rapid exchange of information & computerization

7) standardization of touristic guides
Today's trends in
tourism in Pärnu area

Regaining the independency of Estonia has
revolutionized Baltic tourism.

The new, revitalized era for tourism industry in
Estonia is now started. It is mostly based on
**privatization** and **foreign investments** (from
Finland or Germany).

The modern, "western-looking" and quickly
constructed hotels are now being created
Privatization and
reconstruction – new
trends in modern Estonia

After the end of the USSR since 1990s, the land
management system and urban development of Estonia
significantly changed, which reflects overall socio-
economic and political situation in the country.

Currently, Estonia has intensive privatization process, which
is caused by serious changes in state regulations on
property and ownership.

Naturally it caused intensification of construction of privately
hold hotels and summer cottages, built both for personal
(family based) needs for spending summer vacations, and
for rent to incoming tourists, domestic and international.

Nowadays, suburbanization and development of second
houses become the major and most evident processes in
the current urban dynamics of modern Estonia.<sup>18</sup>
Boom on real estate in
Estonia after the 1990s

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /><figcaption>RSE35: NUMBER AND FLOOR AREA OF PRIVATELY OWNED DWELLINGS, 1 JANUARY by Year and Indicator.
(Value)</figcaption></figure>
...and statistics of real estate for Pärnu county (1995-2002):

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /><figcaption>RSE7: NUMBER AND FLOOR AREA OF DWELLINGS, 1 JANUARY by Year and Indicator. Private sector, Pärnu county. (Value)</figcaption></figure>
...some examples of the
new trends in the properties
construction: eco-houses
directly in forest area:

Examples of new eco-style houses, Reiu village, Pärnu County, Estonia. Photos: author.

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<figure><img src="image_21.png" /><figcaption>Examples of construction of new summer cottages in Reiü district, Pärnu area.</figcaption></figure>

Photos: author.

2012/05/24 14:09

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2012/05/21 13:55

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2012/05/21 13:54

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2012/05/21 13:57
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<figure><img src="image_28.png" /><figcaption>Surroundings of Pärnu area:
Tahkuranna district.
Summer cottages of local people.
Photos: author.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure><img src="image_31.png" /></figure>

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Perspectives for the tourism development in Estonia

...include active redirection towards eco-style sustainable tourism:

- Active development of modern world-class hotels

- Organized group sportive activities (e.g., biking)

- Sea side recreation,

- Construction of summer cottages for rent

- Organized tours to Natural Parks.

- Intensive developing of camping.
What are the main trends
in the Estonian tourism
nowadays ?

Expanding touristic dimensions is highly profitable for the country (evident income of financial flows).

Now tourism in Estonia becomes eco-oriented, often family-runed small business with actively developed cottages for rent, restructured and renovated old hotels.

<figure><img src="image_33.png" /><figcaption>Rural environmental tourism: eco-style new cottages built since 1990s in Pärnu surroundings.</figcaption></figure>

Photos: author.
<figure><img src="image_34.png" /><figcaption>Marine views in Pärnu Bay region.</figcaption></figure>

Photos: author.

<figure><img src="image_35.png" /><figcaption>Old Soviet hotel on the Baltic beach 12/05/20 16:55</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_36.png" /><figcaption>Yacht Club, Pärnu.</figcaption></figure>

2012/05/21 13:07

<figure><img src="image_37.png" /><figcaption>Coastal area, western Estonia.</figcaption></figure>

View from the tower.

2012/05/22 11:39
# Who are the main frequent tourists and guests in Estonia ?

## Dominating nations **Russians** and **Finnish**
(for the whole country).

* Finnish tourists traditionally visit western Estonia (Baltic Sea coasts);

* Russians preferably concentrate near Russian border, in eastern Estonia, on the Finnish Gulf.

These two nations are notably the most representing tourists, while others visit Estonia significantly lesser.
...a bit of statistics on
touristic portrait in
Pärnu:

About 90,000 foreign tourists/year visit Pärnu.

- of which about 50,000 are Finns,

- followed by 7,200 Swedes,

- 4,500 Russians,

- 2,700 Americans,

- ...and ca. 17,100 of other nationalities.
Difficulties in
development tourism
in Estonia

Main problem in the touristic cluster in
Estonia consists in...

* its specific **location** on the Baltic Sea with cold climate in summer period. It causes low popularity among tourists, comparing to Mediterranean.

* low **investments** into tourism (comparing to other European countries) due to the ongoing development of the country.
# Why does Estonia has low popularity as a touristic place?

The non-popularity of Estonia among other nations, (comparing to touristic giants, like France or Italy) can be explained by various factors:

* Insufficient quantity of world-level hotels, possibilities for recreation and spa-centers (e.g. as in Finland)

* Weather & specific climatic conditions: cool waters in Baltic Sea (even in summer); windy & cold winters.

* Lack of sights of world-known heritage.

* Under-developed touristic cluster, e.g. bad service facilities, caused by long Soviet history<sup>31</sup> (now in process of growth and development).
## As a result...

Touristic cluster now rapidly develops in new directions:

* Soviet touristic areas is abandoned & re-constructed,

* New hotels are being actively created,

* Intensive privatization of summer houses is ongoing,

* New eco-style and modern design is dominating in the touristic hotels

<figure><img src="image_38.png" /></figure>

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Newly built houses, Reiu village,
Tahkuranna Parish, Pärnu County.
Photos: author.
Examples of the today's tourism in Häädemeeste

<figure><img src="image_40.png" /></figure>

Private new Estonian spa hotel (Lepanina Hotell) created on the Baltic Sea coast.
A successful combination of 1) modern European hotel design, 2) location on the seaside with maritime landscapes 3) and coniferous forests in the near - make it a valuable health resort area.
Photos: author.
# Perspectives for the tourism development in Estonia

...include active redirection towards modern, flexible & eco-style sustainable tourism:

* Family business, family-runed hotels / hostels, which often implies direct host-guest interactions.

* Active development of modern world-class hotels

* Intensive reconstruction and modernization of the old, Soviet-style hotels

* Organized group sportive activities (e.g., biking)

* Seaside recreation activities and small business

* Developing of camping and low-cost recreation

* Construction of summer cottages for rent

* Local-scale tourism, a special benefit for Estonia

* Organized tours to Natural Parks.
# Conclusions

This research investigated... :

1) current socio-economic development of Estonia

2) post-socialistic heritage of Estonia as ex-USSR country

3) today's development of tourism in Pärnu region

3) cultural and environmental changes in the country

Methods included:

1) Study of numerous relevant literature

2) Analysis of statistics

3) fieldwork monitoring and in-situ observations
Acknowledgment

Current work has been during my 2-month visiting
research stay at the University of Tartu.

It included fieldwork, excursions in Pärnu area, research
work with GIS and statistical data in the lab of Faculty of
Geography.

The financial support of this research and these activities
research has been kindly provided by the **DoRa Scholarship** Committee of the European Social Fund (ESF).

I cordially thank the assistance of:
1) Mrs. Irja Pede, employee at Häädemeeste municipality,
2) Mrs. Merle Looring, a lecturer of the University of Tartu, Pärnu College, Department of Ecosystem Management,
3) Dr. J. Roosaare, a lecturer of the University of Tartu.
Thank you for attention.
Questions ?

2012/05/21 17:26