16% more tourists stayed in Estonia in Q1

It is interesting how large the increase of Russians was. It is about time people here put business before nationalism. See what results can be got if one tries?

Prices are higher in London for many things, hotels and especially transportation. And some of the tourist sites are outrageously costly. How much is it these days for the Tower and the London Eye? The last time I was in London the transport costs there were more than my return air ticket from Tallinn!

I find it tedious to argue with such two dimensional thinking and especially with someone who has such a tenuous grasp of reality that he points at negative pricing trends in the UK as some sort of vindication for high prices in a tiny, unknown East European country with a dearth of attractions aside from its Old Town, and with a much higher dependence on the tourism industry than the UK. What next, you'll point at New York or Paris and say, hey they charge high prices, so why can't Estonia?

"So now you say high prices are okay?"

Please PLEASE point me out the relevant passage where I say this. In fact, I specifically said that I don't necessarily disagree with Lonely Planet. However I also point out that enough people are willing to pay the high prices that London is still a top ten world destination.

"why complain about beer prices on the Old Town Square when people are willing to pay them?"

Because it's typical Estonian short-term greedy unsustainable strategy. People may be willing to pay these ridiculous prices once, maybe in the case of Finns and Russians twice or three times. But in the long-term, for a country where tourism makes up a not insignificant part of the economy, where beyond the Old Town there isn't that much to attract return tourism, lack of repeat tourism and word-of-mouth about high prices to potential future tourists can be potentially very harmful in the long term. Look, I can't see London as a tourist destination because I'm from there but let me give the example of say, Paris or Barcelona. I've been to both a few times, and I find they're not that cheap. I also know however that I will probably visit them many many times more in my life because they are world class cities with lots to offer, high prices or not. On the other hand, if I visit Estonia once and find equivalent high prices, why on earth should I return? And if friends ask me whether they should go, why shouldn't I discourage them? I am really astounded that you fail to grasp this distinction between a world class destination and a tiny regional one.

"Where is the 'Prague is the best value in Europe' crowd? "

Funny you mention Prague. It's number 15 on the list of World Destinations.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations

As I said, Tallinn isn't even in the top 25 European destinations. So if I paid the same price for a beer in Tallinn and Prague, arguably I'm getting better value for money in Prague.

"Yet tourism is increasing."

An astoundingly facile way to look at things. I could argue that having the European City of Culture title this year and Ryanair opening routes to/from Tallinn were the cause of this increase, especially given Estonia Air's woeful offerings in recent years.