Although fewer foreign tourists are visiting Estonia this year, Estonians are actively visiting domestic accommodation establishments, ETV's "Aktuaalne kaamera" reported on Monday evening.

Annely Vürmer, Business Marketing Manager at the Tourism Development Center of the Business Development Foundation said: "We may not be seeing so many Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, or people from Great Britain here, but domestic tourists - Estonians - Estonians are visiting and enjoying Estonia this year."

Maiu Vaatmann, owner of the Samblatalu in Laulasmaa, said visitors from Asia, America and Europe have disappeared this summer, but Estonians have booked up almost all future weekends.

"The number of reservations made by Latvians and Lithuanians can be counted on the fingers of one hand and there is only one foreign couple from Germany who dares to come," Vaatmann said.

During the crisis, accommodation establishments whose clients are traditionally Estonian have fared better. One of them is Kubija Hotel and Nature Spa in Võru County. Currently, 75 percent of the spa hotel's rooms are booked.

"Compared to previous years, our occupancy is about 90 percent, but there are still a few days until the end of the summer, and I think it may be the same as in previous years," said manager Aigar Pindmaa.

Annely Vürmer explained that domestic tourists tend to visit smaller areas outside the city in the summer.

"Maybe a good reason or something to go for is food. For example, there are more than ten food festivals and home cafe days in Estonia during July and August," she said.

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