What Will N. Estonia Be Like in 2025? Daily Asks the Experts
Seventeen opinion leaders were surveyed by Eesti Päevaleht in a series brainstorming trends 10 years from now in each region of the country.
Some ideas were fey or facetious; others may just be feasible. The following is a small sampling from the original article (in Estonian) here.
'Talsinki'
Harju County Governor Ülle Rajasalu: A closer-knit Estonia-Finland capital region. "There aren't many regions where national capitals are so closer together." A Talsinki–Hellinn region would have more than 2 million people, Tallinn with 500,000–600,000.
Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus-Rosimannus: "The airport, train station and bus station are all now centered in Ülemiste. In 10 years, the construction of the tunnel to Helsinki will begin - the logical continuation of Rail Baltica.”
Demographic shifts and revitalization
Open Air Museum director Merike Lang: Tallinn will draw more political refugees from Russia who can't tolerate the totalitarian regime. And people from Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova."
Kunda Mayor Jüri Landberg: "Rakvere is an hour away from Tallinn, and more people will commute from there." Others, too, see the town as a culturally vibrant place, with new tourist attractions like a funicular or cable car running to the castle.
Tallinn city council chairman Toomas Vitsut: "Considering the increasing need for a workforce, Lasnamäe district has become an especially attractive and blossoming area.”
Vello Tamm, Harju County Association of Municipalities director: "A high-speed tram will run along the freeway between city center and Lasnamäe."
Ivi Eenmaa: Students and other ethnicities besides Russians will move to Lasnamäe; more affluent Russians will move elsewhere.
Museums of the future
The Song Festival Grounds have national park status.
Virumaa Museums director Ants Leemets: "Tallinn City Government proclaims communism in a limited area - you can ride for free, municipal stores carry merchandise, a municipal bank gives low-interest non-repayable loans, the MuPo handles law and order. The zoo and theater are free, too.”
AS Viru Õlu director Ott Licht envisions a Beer Museum in Haljala.
Ants Leemets: "A big and new nature museum becomes very popular."
Ministries in Tartu
Toomas Vitsut: All ministries could be moved to Tartu, even the prime minister's office. Nothing would change in Tallinn's development. Keit Pentus-Rosimannus: "The Environment Ministry is the first mini to try to move into a purpose-built wooden house."