Tourism Strategy
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2024-12-18 14:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Member of the Riigikogu, Tõnis Lukas, posed a question to the Minister of Culture, Heidy Purga, regarding the tourism strategy 2035, sharply criticizing the fact that the development plan drawn up by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has assigned an inadequate role to cultural tourism. Lukas emphasized that culture (monuments, theatrical performances, festivals) is actually the main attraction for Estonian tourism and a driver of the economy, and asked why culture lacks a worthy place in the strategy.
Minister Purga acknowledged the criticism, noting that the Ministry of Culture (MC) regrets that their proposals were not taken into account in a timely manner. The MC had just submitted its input, demanding a greater focus on cultural tourism, a connection between culture and the development plan, and an expanded consideration of heritage tourism (both tangible and intangible). Lukas expressed indignation that the long-term strategy was presented without the MC’s input, indicating a second-class status for culture within the government. Purga responded, highlighting recent progress: for the first time, culture is officially recognized as part of the economy in the government’s economic growth plan. Additionally, Helir-Valdor Seeder intervened, criticizing the MC’s decision to end state funding for sports associations Jõud and Koolisport, and presented the minister with a symbolic golden soccer ball, while also acknowledging the successful continuation of the county soccer hall project.
Decisions Made 3
The government adopted economic growth plans, which for the first time address culture as part of the economy. Within this framework, a decision was made to increase the volume of support for international cultural and sports events taking place in Estonia, the economic impact of which has been measured as 1.5 times greater.
It was decided to increase the volume of the application round for sports and cultural events with economic impact, which was previously 2 million euros and had been repeatedly oversubscribed.
According to the economic growth plan, it was decided to develop an ecosystem for Estonian animal husbandry entrepreneurs.
Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas (member of the Riigikogu) was the most active questioner, initiating the debate and presenting sharp criticism regarding the devaluation of culture in the tourism strategy, demanding concrete steps from the Ministry of Culture to strengthen the position of culture within the government. Position: other (opposition).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The first question posed by Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas to Culture Minister Heidy Purg concerns the tourism strategy.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that culture is a central link between tourism and the economy, and asks why culture does not have a proper place in the 2035 tourism development plan.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The presentation thanked Tõnis Lukas for the additional funding for the Estonian Book Year, stressed the importance of cultural tourism, and lamented that the ministry's proposals have not yet been taken into account in a timely manner, but they have been submitted and it is hoped that they will be heard and more broadly addressed in the cultural and heritage tourism development plan and in improving international visibility.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Tõnis Lukas to present a clarifying question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas noted that culture is undervalued in the state budget and in the tourism development plan, pointed to the economic impact of culture and to coronavirus funding, and asked what should be done so that the voice of culture in the government would finally be heard.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga said that the government has adopted an economic growth plan in which culture is for the first time named as part of the economy, and funding for international cultural and sporting events will be increased, because a two-million-euro application round will be expanded so that by next year four sporting events and one cultural event will receive additional funds, and an ecosystem for creative economy entrepreneurs will be created.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chair Lauri Hussar thanks and asks Helir-Valdor Seeder to submit an additional question.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder criticized the sudden termination of state support for the sports federation Jõud and the School Sports Federation, noting that both are still alive and organize summer and winter games as well as school sports competitions, called for a review of the Ministry of Culture's funding policy, recalled the 2019 coalition agreement on the construction of universal football halls in every county, and announced the transfer to the ministry of the eighth hall opened in Paide, with the aim of securing the Golden Football, so that such halls would be completed in all counties in the future.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
They thanked the comment, acknowledged their previous achievements, and noted that different decisions are now being made; they expressed hope for the strengthening of the Jõu sports organization's role and for the restoration of the Narva football hall with a sagging roof; and they noted that the main obstacle to building football halls is funding from local governments, although the central government must implement the idea.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and announces that the consideration of today's first question has ended.