Lemenkova_Peniche2013.pdf (726.43 kB)
Current development of tourism and recreation on Baltic Sea coasts: new directions and perspectives
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 restructuring of economic and
social system. This affected tourist cluster, rapidly developing in new
directions. Soviet tourist areas became abandoned and reconstructed, 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.