Participation in the work of international organisations

Last Updated (Wednesday, 16 November 2011 12:24) Written by Raido Tuesday, 09 December 2008 16:42

The European Travel Commission (ETC, http://www.etc-corporate.org/) is the association of the state tourism boards or the institutions dealing with national tourism marketing of 39 European countries, the objective of which is the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination in other continents. ETC was established by the Western European tourism boards in 1948, by seeing the great potential in tourism development for immediate increase of the income and employment of post-war Europe. In the last decade almost all countries of Central and Eastern European countries have joined the organisation. The Estonian Tourism Board joined ETC on 1 July 1998.

The marketing activities of the organisation focus on promoting Europe as a tourist destination outside Europe, foremost in North America, Japan and China. In financing the activities the considerable support of the tourism operators of the target market countries is also added to the membership fees. In the recent years the marketing activities have focused on e-marketing through the portal of visiteurope.com which introduces all member states on the separate internet site as well as through the tourism website of each county.

The important field of activity supporting marketing is the analysis of the European tourism market: regular exchange of the tourism statistics between the member states, annual forum of world tourism trends (organised by IPK International) and joint surveys separately agreed each year.

The Baltic Sea Tourism Commission (BTC, http://www.balticsea.com) is the organisation consisting of more than 80 members, the objective of which is the development of tourism in the region of the Baltic Sea. The key function of the organisation established in 1983 is the promotion of the region as a tourist destination and favouring of in-region tourism with the help of the marketing activities and development projects. The focus is placed on the projects involving several member states: sea and cruise tourism, development and introduction of thematic tourism routes, favouring of sustainable development of tourism.

The membership involves the tourism boards of 10 countries near the Baltic Sea - Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia, local governments, tourism operators, aviation and shipping companies, ports. The members also include the tourism companies of other countries which organise the trips to the countries of the Baltic Sea.

Additional information:
Tarmo Mutso
Director of the Estonian Tourist Board
Phone +372 627 9787, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it