Tourism

Estonia's national tourism policy is managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. 

The main goal of Estonian tourism policy is to increase the international competitiveness of Estonian tourism, to increase the export of tourism services and the added value of tourism enterprises, while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the sector, destinations, and the natural and living environment. 
Tourism is a horizontal policy area, for the development of which we cooperate with organisations representing accommodation, catering, and travel management enterprises, tourism stakeholders and networks, regional tourism-related Development Management Organisations (DMOs), and many other policy makers, such as consumer protection, occupational sector, education, transport, maritime, aviation, environment, spatial planning, technology, etc. The main implementer of Estonian tourism policy is the Tourism Department of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency.

The Ministry is responsible for: 

• tourism policy design and strategic planning;
• shaping the tourism business environment (requirements of the Tourism Act, provision of accommodation services and travel business, participation in the establishment of sanctions)
• ensuring supervision over established requirements;
• development of tourism-related support measures; 
• dealing with national issues related to tourism (education and skills; transport, workforce, etc.);
• requesting the necessary financial resources for the development of tourism from both the state and the European Union budget;
• cooperation with national and regional tourism organisations, industry stakeholders and networks, to facilitate the long-term development of tourism policy.

Information on tourism development services and subsidies can be found on the website of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency and the “Visit Estonia: For travel trade” website.