ESTONIA TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ORGANISATION

The state tourism policy has been focusing on the legal regulation of the sector and supporting the dissemination of tourism information. The national tourism policy and development activities are implemented by the Estonian Tourist Board which is subordinated to the Foundation Enterprise Estonia and belongs to the administrative sphere of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication.

 Activities of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication in the field of tourism:

• To elaborate tourism policies and programmes and to guarantee their implementation;
• To apply funding for tourism development programmes and projects from the state budget and from the EU;
• To draft tourism related legislation and regulations;
• To participate in the activities of international tourism organisations;

 Activities of the Estonian Tourist Board

•  Marketing Estonia as a tourist destination;
•  Domestic tourism marketing;
•  Product development;
• Market research at main target markets;
• Development and administration of the national tourist information system;

The Estonian Tourist Board coordinates the network of regional tourist information centres (TIC). TICs are established in each of the 15 counties of Estonia, and in the main border towns (Tallinn, Narva, Valga).

Industry Groups and Bodies

• Estonian Association of Travel Agents
• Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association
• Non-Profit Organisation Estonian Rural Tourism
• South-Estonian Tourism Foundation
• North-Estonian Tourism Foundation
• West-Estonian Tourism Foundation
• Estonian Spa Association
• Estonian Convention Bureau

 In addition to these all-Estonian organisations, there are several regional tourism organisations which unite providers of tourism entrepreneurs and in some cases also local government bodies of the respective region.

The Estonian Tourist Board (ETB) has an advisory council, consisting of the representatives of the tourism industry: Estonian Association of Travel Agents, Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Estonian Spa Association, Non-Profit Organisation Estonian Rural Tourism, South-Estonian Tourism, Foundation, Tallinn City Government, Estonian Air.