Number of Russian tourists visiting Estonia has fallen to critically low level

Photo: Jaan Olmaru

The statistics of the past few months show that the number of Russian tourists visiting Estonia has fallen to a critically low level where there is no more room to fall, Verni Loodmaa, board chairman of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, told BNS.

«Statistics show that the number of Russian tourists has been declining every month this year,» Loodmaa told BNS. In June the number of Russian tourists staying at Estonian accommodation establishments decreased by 31 percent and in July by 5 percent on year.

According to Loodmaa the number of Russian tourists declining is making Estonian tourism and accommodation enterprises very anxious. The fact that the Russian ruble is at a record low level against the euro is not offering any sense of security for the future, he added.

The weak state of the ruble is the main reason behind why the number of Russian tourists visiting Estonia is at a record low because Russian tourists generally like visiting Estonia, Loodmaa said. He added that there are states where the number of Russian tourists has fallen even more drastically, like Finland.

According to Loodmaa at the start of 2015 the accommodation establishments of Tallinn and the East-Viru County took the biggest hit.