Current Development of Tourism and Recreation on Baltic Sea Coasts: New Directions and Perspectives

Abstract

Research work analyses current situation and development of tourism in the region of Baltic Sea. Specific case study of this paper is Pärnu Bay, Estonia. This region is known for unique environmental settings: mild maritime climate, broad beaches, coniferous pine forests on the coastal zone and high aesthetic value of the surrounding landscapes. However, after the end of USSR, Estonia survived a difficult period of re-structuring of economic and social system. This affected tourist cluster, rapidly developing in new directions. Soviet tourist areas became abandoned and re-constructed, new hotels are being actively created, intensive privatization of recreation houses is actively ongoing. Main problem in the tourist 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. Another problem consists in ongoing development of the country, reflected in low investments into tourism, comparing to other European countries. Therefore, the main perspective for the tourism development in Estonia includes active redirection towards eco-style sustainable tourism: camping, biking, sea side recreation, construction of summer cottages for vacations, organized tours to Natural Parks. This paper, supported by fieldwork, has analytical character reviewing current Estonian tourism dynamics. Socio-political effects on current tourism directions are discussed, while modern tourist system in Estonia compared to Soviet. The overview of the recreation resort places was performed in Häädemeeste municipality, Pärnu district, and resulted in series of thematic author photos. The research was performed at the University of Tartu.

Keywords: tourism, development, Baltic Sea region, recreation, post-Soviet Estonia

JEL Classification: Z3, Z30, Z32, Z39