BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Estonian Air celebrates its birthday!

Estonian Air is celebrating its 18-year birthday on 1 December 2009. Therefore Estonian Air makes a gift to all its customers and offers until 6 December 2009 birthday fares to Estonian Air flights. In addition, flight tickets for two into one of Estonian Air direct destinations will be drawn among players of the birthday game.

In the event of full age Estonian Air is offering really sweet prices! One-way fares to Tallinn from: 

Stockholm from 833 SEK*

Oslo from 644 NOK*

Amsterdam from 90.05 EUR*

Copenhagen from 627 DKK*

Berlin from 82.07 EUR*

London from 78.32 GBP*

Vilnius from 307 LTL*

Munich from 84.84 EUR*

Brussels from 100.8 EUR*

Kiev from 134.75 USD*

Milan from 90.26 EUR* flights from 27 February to 27 March 2010.

St Petersburg from 86.44 EUR*

Moscow from 86.2 EUR*

*One-way fares, inclusive of all taxes and fees if purchased from Estonian Air’s home page, the number of seats sold with the campaign fares is limited.

Tallinn : a girl's guide to the best bars, hotels and restaurants

This pinch-yourself perfect walled capital is the most intact medieval city in Europe. In November and December its snow-covered streets are crammed with Christmas stalls.

Stay

The smartest address in town is the Schlössle Hotel, a super-luxe retreat where everyone from Sting to Soros has stayed over the years. If your budget doesn't stretch to a stay, splash out on the best dinner in the city at the sublime Stenhaus restaurant.

• From €169 (schlossle-hotels.com/schlossle)

The chic Three Sisters hotel, in three adjacent town houses, is not for the shy and retiring. Think modern décor, hip music and a clientele to match.

• From €159 (threesistershotel.com)

Eat

Estonian chefs have embraced the cuisines of the world with a vengeance, but their take on Italian is particularly inspiring. Try it at Controvento (controvento.ee) and Bocca (bocca.ee)

For an incredible authentic Russian menu – including the best-ever blinis – visit the old-world Restaurant Nevskij (nevskij.ee)

Drink

Find the best cocktail list in town, and a cool jazz-loving clientele, at Basso (basso.ee)

Estonia has become a destination for tax-free shopping

The Estonian Parliament made a decision to lower the boundary of tax-free purchases until the end of 2011. While the previous boundary was 2000 EEK, now tourists can make tax-free purchases beginning from 600 EEK (€38).

Due to this change in legislation, Estonia has become a better shopping destination for tourists than Finland, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania, where the lower boundary of tax-free purchases is higher than in Estonia. In Estonia, the prices for luxury items are also cheaper than in many neighboring countries.

Lowering the tax-free boundary before the Christmas season means that Estonia has become an ideal destination for all visitors from outside of the European Union: Japan, USA Canada etc. It is especially ideal for Russian citizens who have traditionally had the practice of doing their holiday shopping in Estonia. Acquiring an Estonian visa has also been made easier for Russian citizens; the application can now be done via courier service.

In order to receive tax redemption on goods purchased from Estonia, the client must ask the Merchant for a tax redemption stamp on the receipt. When leaving the country, the customs service temple must be attained and then the receipt can be redeemed at local Global Refund bureaus.

For more information regarding the global tax-free system, read more HERE and about applying for a visa via courier service in Russia, please check out this LINK

Tallinn plans to build an extra airport for small planes

The Tallinn city government will decide upon initiating development plans at Väike-Sõjamäe Str 22 and its vicinity to build a private and small planes airport and its access road at the 4.7 hectares lot, Eesti Päevaleht Online/LETA reports.

The land is located in the space between Suur-Sõjamäe street in the Lasnamäe city district and the Tallinn Airport. The land has no usable buildings on it at the moment.

The development plan was initiated by AS Tallinn Airport.

Juhan Tere

EAS : What´s new !

Lääne-Viru County and Ida-Viru County introduced at major theme event in Helsinki   19 November 2009 From tomorrow until Sunday, yet another St. Martin's Day Fair will be held in Helsinki, this time with a focus on Lääne-Viru County and Ida-Viru County. The motto of the biggest Estonian event in Finland - "Viro alkaa Virumaasta" - reminds us that Viru County has given the Finnish name to the entire country. Loe edasi/read more

 

Estonia introduced as a travel destination to tourism professionals in Germany   16 November 2009 The traditional twin event introducing Estonia as a versatile and fascinating travel destination will start in Germany tomorrow. The Estonian Tourist Board will organise a presentation in two Germany cities - Munich and Berlin - for German tourism professionals: tour operators, travel agencies and travel journalists. Loe edasi/read more

 

18 project concepts submitted for development of regional competence centres   11 November 2009 18 project concepts were submitted by the deadline established within the framework of the Regional Competence Centre Development Programme. The project concepts will be used as basis for supporting the development of competence centres to be established in co-operation with companies and educational establishments located outside the counties of Harju and Tartu. Loe edasi/read more

Port of Tallinn received record high number of cruise passengers in 2009

The Port of Tallinn announced that in 2009 it was visited by 416,000 cruise passengers – a record high number for the port, writes Äripäev.ee/LETA. This number was also more than ten times higher than last year.

In total, the Port of Tallinn received 310 cruise ships in 2009. The vessels were operated by 44 cruise travel companies and the 416,000 cruise passengers visiting Tallinn and Saaremaa came from 150 different countries.

The most active month in terms of number of visits was July when the Port of Tallinn was visited by 80 cruise ships with 114,537 passengers. Up to six vessels were in the port simultaneously – on July 19. The most passengers were brought to Tallinn by M/L Emerald Princess on July 11, arriving here with 3,298 passengers.

Most of cruise passengers came from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and from Spain.

The cruise passengers left in Tallinn an estimated amount of nearly 105 million kroons in retail revenue. Estonia also benefited from revenue from port fees, pilotage dues, Maritime Administration fees and from duties paid to shipping agencies, travel agencies, bus companies and fees at visited tourism objects.

The Port of Tallinn expects approximately the same amount of cruise ships and passengers in 2010 as in 2009.

Juhan Tere

Finnair strike affects Estonia

The pilots of the Finnish airline Finnair have been on strike for several days following the breakdown of wage negotiations between the pilots’ union and Finnair.

The daily Eesti Päevaleht is worried about the effects on Estonia:
“Hardly has the Estonian Air ceased flying to Helsinki on the grounds that there are already enough flights, when the situation is suddenly aggravated by the strike of the Finnair pilots.

E-ticket system for transport between Helsinki and Tallinn close to a solution

Euregio Helsinki-Tallinn CEO Merle Krigul says that the common mobile services package of the two cities is close to a solution, ERR/LETA news portal reports.

"Our good friend in EMT says that they have a solution and now we have to convince the Finns that this is a very good solution,” Krigul said in ETV’s morning programme.

Krigul said that the common mobile services package would enable to buy public transport tickets, go to a museum or city excursion in Helsinki, Tallinn and parishes in their vicinity.

Euregio is also working on improving infrastructure between the two cities. Krigul said that in the future a train ferry might start sailing between the cities and the idea of a tunnel has not been abandoned either. “Naturally the tunnel will not become reality in the near future,” she said.

Third, Euregio has launched a digital services project. Krigul said that the aim is to start using the local television stations in Tallinn and Helsinki for people who do not use the computer, so that they would get information on events in either city, book services etc.

Juhan Tere

Moscow-Tallinn trains became more comfortable

Juhan Tere

Travelers going by train from Moscow to Tallinn can now enjoy modern, comfortable coaches with video watching facilities and an internet connection, Visitestonia.com press room reported.

The trains got new facilities both on routes from Estonia to Russia, and back.

All of these comfort services were first installed in more expensive business-class traveling coaches. There are plans to widen these into other compartments, too.

While the economic recession has decreased the number of train passengers by a tenth on Estonian routes, GoRail hopes to attract altogether 150,000 travelers by the end of the year, writes LETA.

Amazing Christmas market

Zürich – The picturesque Town Hall Square of the medieval city of Tallinn is once more hosting the annual Christmas Market with its 64 wooden stalls. During the 40 day period from 29th November until 7th January 2010, visitors may stroll through this amazing festive scene with colourful lights and at the same time enjoy true Swiss hospitality during their stay at the Swissôtel Tallinn.

Felt hats, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls and artefacts, wickerwork, beautiful hand-sewn quilts, ceramics and glassware, sea-grass animals as well as home-made candles are offered among others at the Christmas Market as well as typical culinary Estonian delights like pork, sauerkraut, blood sausages, hot soups, gingerbread, marzipan, honey, nuts and sweets. Christmas performances with choirs, dance groups, poets and musicians round of the abundant programme.

Swissôtel Tallinn, only a 10 minute walk away from the Town Hall Square, offers a special Christmas market package which includes the following: A stay in a Swiss Advantage room overlooking the harbour and delicious breakfast at Café Swiss, a 10% discount voucher for the Kaubamaja department store, a voucher for a complimentary set of drinks when purchasing a meal at the legendary medieval Olde Hansa restaurant, complimentary gift wrapping service as well as a complimentary use of the hotel’s Amrita Spa & Wellness including a 20% discount on any Biodroga or Futuresse product purchased from the Amrita Boutique.

Estonian Air attracts Russian tourists to Estonia

The aim of both campaigns is to increase the number of Russian tourists visiting Estonia by promoting the possibility to spend New Year’s Eve and winter holidays in Estonia. Special attention is paid to the cultural experiences – sightseeing, events and gourmet cuisine.

Estonian Air provides fast and convenient flights between Moscow and Tallinn, and St Petersburg and Tallinn. Russia is a rapidly growing and important source market for Estonia. Last year 82,000 Russian tourists stayed in Estonian hotels, spending on the average 2.5 days in Estonia, and ranking the largest national group visiting the country in 2008. Last year the number of tourists from Russia increased by 46%. The increase has continued in the first half of the current year, although at a slightly slower rate.

“Estonian Air has operated between Moscow and Tallinn for many years but direct flights between Tallinn and St Petersburg is a relatively recent news in the Russian market, and needs constant reminding. We consider such campaigns very important: on the one hand they promote opportunities to spend a holiday and vacation in our country and, on the other hand, the convenient ways of travelling to Estonia,” explains Rauno Parras, acting Vice President Commercial of Estonian Air.

Kalev Chocolate Museum calls me back to Estonia

Amanda Kendle

The beautiful Estonian capital of Tallinn has long been one of my favourite cities, and I’ve just come across a reason to return for my third visit: the Kalev Chocolate Museum.

Open in the inner city since 2003, the museum documents the history of the Kalev sweets manufacturers since 1806, and since that time includes the Soviet era, there is much of interest to see. For example, the museum includes different labels and packaging from throughout this era, a lot of it politically motivated. It’s also interesting to note that the USSR only authorised the Kalev company to produce chewing gum – a most controversial product throughout Soviet times.

I can only assume that, like any good chocolate museum, there are a few samples around for visitors to try. If not, there is definitely a shop attached where you can buy chocolates and candies produced by Kalev, and that’s enough to get me there. Visiting the museum is free and it is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm, but closing at 4pm on Sundays.

Germans, Polish and Finns want to operate the Tallinn-Kärdla air route

Three bids were submitted to the Hiiumaa island county government for operating the Kärdla-Tallinn plane route, EPL Online/LETA reports.

The contract of the county government with the current operator of the route is about to end and bids for finding a new one had to be submitted by Monday.

Hiiu county government development and planning department head Aare-Villu Kattel told EPL Online that three bidders participated in the bid, one of them AS Avies that operates the route now. Kattel has said that the county is more or less satisfied with the work of the company but there is always room for improvement. Bids were also submitted by German aviation firm OLT (Ostfriesische Lufttransport) and a joint bid was submitted by Estonian company Avio-Foto OÜ, Polish flight operator Jet Air Sp z o.o. and Finnish aviation firm Oy Wingo xprs Ab.

Kattel said that the winner of the bid will be announced in the coming days.

The contract with Avies ends on November 30. The new contract will last till February 2014. In the first 8 months of this year, 6,068 people used the route.

Juhan Tere

Tartu Airport services 5000th passenger

Juhan Tere

The Tartu Airport in South East Estonia serviced its 5,000th passenger Thursday evening, Postimees Online/LETA reports.

The passenger arrived in the airport, that started servicing regular international flights four months ago, with the Riga-Tartu flight.

“Such an amount of passengers in four months is a very good result,” said Tallinn Airport’s regional airports director and acting head of Tartu Airport Andres Taimla. “When we planned flights and schedules at first, we could not foresee such success in regard to flights.”

Currently two routes are operated from Tartu, to Riga and to Stockholm. Taimla said that in expectation of a third route, Finland is the direction to look at most likely. Finnish Finn-comm was the first one to initially show interest towards Tartu as an international airport.

Taimla said that the 10,000th passengers will arrive most likely at the end of February, start of March next year if flights continue at the planned rate.

Estonia unveils UK Communication & Information strategy

Christy Wyatt

The Estonian Convention Bureau is set to target UK buyers with a dedicated MICE campaign across 2010.

The main activity is set to be an international fam trip in June 2010 to showcase the destination to 60 event planners and feature workshops, tours and a ‘white nights' party.

The bureau will also run several smaller fam trips throughout the year, and has launched an ambassador programme in the country's main university city, Tartu.

The programme will recruit local academics and business people to act as partners to attract international conferences to the city.

The bureau hosted four familiarisation trips for international meeting planners in 2009, for event planners from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK.

It held its first London networking event in April 2009.

Estonia also established its first UK tourist office, which will also have a remit to grow business travel to the country, in September.

airBaltic to stop flying between Tallinn and Vilnius

Juhan Tere

The Latvian airline airBaltic will stop operating flights between Tallinn and Vilnius next week, writes Postimees Online/LETA.

From the beginning of next week – since October 26 – the Tallinn Airport’s flight plan no longer includes flights from Tallinn to Vilnius operated by airBaltic.

The aviation enterprise’s Vice President Janis Vanags stated that he is not yet prepared to comment on the decision, but will do so soon.

Estonian Air will continue operating flights between the capitals of Estonia and Lithuania.

Commentary from airBaltic specially for BC

"As airBaltic flies connected flights Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius FIVE times per day (in winter season) and offer better prices on connected flights, people tend to migrate for cheaper connected flights. So, our five connected flights per day in a way created too much competition for ourselves, so we suspend the direct flight until the end of March 2010 (winter season typically shows lower passenger demand), and we are ready to put the direct flight back as soon as passengers find that they need something extra to the existing five connected flights!"

Tartu and Riga may get train connection in 2010

Juhan Tere

Adjusting the schedules of Tartu–Valga passenger trains with the Valga–Riga trains in 2010 is complicated, but possible, Postimees/LETA writes.

Economy ministry railways service head Indrek Laineveer said that the ministry is working in the name of it being possible to travel once a day from Riga to Tartu and Tallinn and vice versa, with a switch of trains in Valga from the beginning of 2010 or next summer latest. Negotiations are being held with Latvians to make it happen.

"It is evident that initially it will not be possible to travel from Tartu to Riga and back on the same day," said Laineveer.

Starting October 19, bus company Arilix will launch bus route Valga-Tartu that departs at 17.30 every day and waits for the Riga train that arrives at 17.11.

The state is coordinating with Edelaraudtee passenger trains schedule according to which a train from Valga to Tartu would depart at around 16.30 or a maximum of 15 minutes alter. Laineveer said that it is very complicated to postpone the departure of the Edelaraudtee train by 45 minutes but he expressed hope that Latvia's company Pasazieru Vilciens agrees to shift the departure of its train from Riga to an earlier time. The train that arrives in Valga at 17.11 departs from Riga at 13.54.

Fitting together morning trains would need similar adjustments from the train companies but even bigger compromises by Latvians. The train from Tartu to Valga is planned to depart at around 10 a.m., the train from Valga to Riga departs at 10.27 at present.

"We are trying to adjust the train times. This would be the first step in developing Rail Baltica which is the common aim of us and the Latvians," said Laineveer.

Campaign to promote Estonia in Latvia is a success

A Latvian-based tourism campaign highlighting the merits of a holiday in the Estonian countryside has wrapped up successfully. Co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund, the campaign website at www.visitestonia.com received 20,000 visitors, indicating major interest in spending a holiday in a natural setting in Estonia. The Latvian press called the campaign a good example to be followed in promoting Latvia, and suggested that Latvia would do well to advertise similar alternative tourism opportunities to audiences in neighbouring markets.

One reason for the media coverage can be put down to the unorthodox approach. Besides outdoor media ads, a large-scale open air exhibition of photographs in the Riga city centre drew many in the metropolitan area. The exhibition, titled "Experiences from Estonia", was based on travel photographs taken by actual Latvian families along with excerpts from their travel journals. In addition, a fold-up map of Estonia bearing the campaign message appeared between the pages of major newspapers, helping people locate the holiday destinations more easily.

Launched in June, the campaign focused on back-to-nature holidays on the strength of a 2008 survey of the Latvian population which revealed that Latvians would choose Estonia as their holiday destination above all for the splendid natural scenery, especially on the islands. Over one-half of the respondents cited scenic locations as a "very important" consideration, alongside the proximity of Estonia to Latvia.

St. Kitts forms relations with Estonia

St. Kitts has established diplomatic relations with Estonia and Finland in a bid to boost its economy and attract more visitors to the eastern Caribbean island.

Prime Minister Denzil Douglas says he expects to cooperate with Estonia in areas including tourism and information technology. He said Thursday that he also hopes for fiscal cooperation with Finland.

Both countries are members of the European Union and citizens do not need visas to travel to St. Kitts.

Tourism has replaced sugar production as St. Kitts' main revenue source.

airBaltic will triple Tartu-Riga flights in October

Juhan Tere

Latvian carrier airBaltic will make two flights a day on the Tartu-Riga route starting the end of October 2009; both the Latvian carrier and Estonain Air confirm that it is worth while operating a Tartu route, Postimees/LETA writes.

airBaltic flies at present on the Tartu-Riga route four times a week. In the future it will make 13 flights: twice a day from Monday to Sunday and once on Saturdays.

In September airBaltic’s Riga-Tartu flights have had an average occupancy rate of 66 percent and the rate of Tartu–Riga flights has been 74%.

airBaltic’s deputy president on corporate relations Janis Vanags told Tartu Postimees that such a result gives the company reason to more than triple the number of flights.

Ilona Eskelinen, PR director of Estonian Air that launched Tartu–Stockholm flights at the end of August said that the company was also satisfied with the start: in the first 28 days of September, the average occupancy rate on Tartu-Stockholm flights was 58 percent and on Stockholm-Tartu flights 51% and the tendency is increasing.

Eskelinen said though that Estonian Air, which at present flies on the Tartu-Stockholm route four times a week, does not intend to add new flights.