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Soomaa.com – lessons learned
EUTO conferencePärnu 07.09.2005
Aivar Ruukel www.soomaa.com Estonia
Soomaa.com
- Private company
- Established in 1995
- 8000 quests in 2005- Operating in Soomaa NP
National parks in Estonia
• Lahemaa• Matsalu
• Vilsandi
• Karula
• Soomaa
Soomaa National Park- established in 1993
by Estonian Fund for Nature
- 400 sq.km
- RAMSAR area since 1997
Soomaa National Park
- Bogs, forests, meadows, rivers
- Home for eagles, black storks,flying squirrels, wolves, bears, lynx ...
Products of soomaa.com
Canoeing on the rivers
Products of soomaa.com
Bogwalking
Products of soomaa.com
Saunas
Products of soomaa.com
Skiing on the bogs
Five seasons – more reasons
Regular floods – a fifth season
Five seasons – more reasons
Regular floods – a fifth season
Living culture of log-boatsHaabjas- estonian log-boat
Living culture of log-boatsHaabjas- estonian log-boat
Haabjas-building workshops
1995 - 2000
Haabjas-building workshops
1995 - 2000
Haabjas-building workshops
1995 - 2000
Haabjas and tourism
New product - exclusive trips on the rivers
Haabjas and tourism
Image building and promotion • lot of attention from media• in 2005 six film-teams visiting Karuskose
Haabjas and tourismPromotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and
Tartu
Partnerships and networks
Partnerships• Horizontally and
vertically
• Within the business sector and across sectors
Our policy
The philosophy of SOOMAA.COM is ecotourism, which means to us:
- supporting preservation of cultural and natural heritage
- educating tourists and public
- promoting local economic development
Local People The backbone of our activities is a
network of farms along the rivers and people living there.
• involvement in planning• guide services• other services
– food, transport, riding, B&B
Co-operation with Travel Trade
• tour operators• travel bureaus• hotels
Hostel Soomaa
Low budget logging in the gateway to Soomaa NP
Marketing and distribution
www.hostelworld.comwww.hostels.comwww.backpakertours.com
Conclusions
• take care of local values
• do not be afraid of compeditors• together you will be sucessful• be creative
Thank you for attention!
Contacts: Aivar Ruukelwww.soomaa.com +3725061896
