A record number of tourists from the UK visited Estonia in the first three months of 2011, said the country’s national tourist board in a statement.
Between January and March this year, more than 259,000 tourist arrivals booked into hotels in the country, which is an increase of 19% on the previous year.
Especially encouraging for tourism in Estonia was the huge increase in the number of visitors from the UK. According to the Estonian Tourist Board, 9,500 British tourists stayed in the country during the first quarter.
It’s thought that this success is down to several contributing factors rather than just one, which all points to the countries continuing rise as one of Eastern Europe’s foremost tourist destinations.
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is enjoying much prestige as one of two Capitals of Culture in Europe this year, while the low budget airline EasyJet has introduced regular flights from Liverpool in the north of England, to the capital city.
According to Estonia’s Director of Tourism Tarmo Mutso, the country is “benefiting from many different positive factors; we are Europe’s Capital of Culture, which has generated lots of interest in us, and added to that we have more flights coming here and a we already have an established tourist infrastructure, with great prices and good value hotel rooms.”
Mutso was also keen to point out the Estonian is keen to exploit new opportunities in tourism, adding “We have several new attractions in Tallinn this year, such as the Estonian History Museum which has undergone renovation, the Viru Hotel KGB Museum, and the rebuilt Seaplane Harbor.