Surveys conducted among conference organizers and delegates, commissioned by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), revealed that international conference visitors spend an average of €1,127 per trip in Tallinn. In total, an estimated €42 million was generated for the city.
According to Meetings.ee, Tallinn hosted 559 international conferences in 2024, bringing nearly 37,100 international delegates to the city. These high-spending delegates provide direct economic benefits to Tallinn’s accommodation, hospitality, and service sectors while also helping to mitigate seasonal fluctuations in tourism. Additionally, 63 percent of conference attendees consider returning to Tallinn for a leisure trip, demonstrating the long-term impact of conference tourism on the city’s visitor economy.
Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor Margot Roose emphasizes that conference tourism is one of the most important high-value-added sectors, and the city actively supports its development both financially and through various marketing initiatives. International conferences bring visitors to Tallinn even outside the peak season and contribute to the city’s reputation as a center for science, business, and innovation. Conference guests spend significantly more in Tallinn than regular leisure tourists, and experience shows that a positive visit often brings them back for both business and leisure trips, said Roose.
The reputation-building impact of conferences is also reflected in the fact that 84 percent of delegates were highly satisfied with their conference experience in Tallinn. The highest-rated aspects included city safety, hospitality, local transport logistics, and language skills in the service sector, as well as attractions, restaurants, cafés, and the quality of accommodation. In their free time, international delegates primarily spent time in restaurants, visiting attractions, and shopping.
Evelin Tsirk, head of Tallinn’s tourism department, adds that the city is investing in the growth of conference tourism through an international conference support scheme, which this year amounts to €350,000. The aim of the grant is to attract more international participants to Tallinn, help balance seasonal tourism, and strengthen the city’s competitiveness in the international conference market. An additional application round is currently open, with a deadline of March 31. The next rounds will have deadlines on September 8 and November 10. If needed, the tourism department also provides advisory services, said Tsirk.
More information on Tallinn’s conference support program is available on the Tallinn and Visit Tallinn websites.
More information about the survey results is availaible in Estonian language.
Source: tallinn.ee