Pärnu tourism season stays strong despite cool summer

Tourism businesses in Pärnu, a city in Estonia, said the season went well despite a rainy and relatively cool summer, ERR reported. Hotels and restaurants said the season was no worse than last year, although an increase in accommodation VAT remains a concern.

Oliver Paasik, manager of Rannahotell, said the economic difficulties seen across Estonia at the beginning of the year had not significantly affected Pärnu’s tourism season. However, he said the accommodation VAT increase introduced at the beginning of 2025 was still having an impact.

Paasik said events helped offset the cooler weather. Although the number of Finnish tourists has generally declined, visitors from Finland remained Pärnu’s largest customer group during the summer.

Kairi Lusik, manager of the Viking Spa Hotel, said June was weaker than last year, while July was steadily good and August had been the season’s biggest surprise. She expected total revenue to be higher than last year, although the number of nights sold could be lower.

Merli Liidemaa, manager of the Borgo and Mon Ami restaurants, said the season had attracted both foreign and Estonian visitors and that the businesses were satisfied overall. She added that the lack of very hot beach weather had benefited restaurants, with their terraces full throughout the summer.