Summer Academy : Soomaa study tour report 2012

1. Soomaa Study tour
Anne, Viki, Lili, Pirjo. Lea, Merja, Algis, Aivar is taking
photo and Meelis is already making preparations for bog
renovation workshop

2. What is Soomaa?
• “the land of bogs”
• National park established in 1933, one of 5
national parks in Estonia, 390 km2 of raised bogs,
flood grasslands, forests and rivers
• First written documents of the settlements from
1588, both pritave and pubic land
• 5 seasons, the fifth is the flood season.
• The national park belongs to Pan Parks network
and have Eden 2009, RAMSAR, IBA and Natura
2000 labels

3. MAP

7. The most common and least
protected...

8. The rural tourism
today
• Accommodation, catering services,
experiences, renting equipment, guided
tours, crafts workshops,
• What are their competitive advantages?
They think more and more about marketing
issues: websites and social media but they
have no enough staff to deal with increased
number of visitors.

9. Wooden boats (aspen)
represents the identity of the
area. One log boat was the
only vehicle during floods.

10. Spatial planning
• The area is very sensitive and the carrying
capacity should be monitored and the
devlopment plans should be designed and
implemented for avoiding future problems.
• It seems that National Park tourism
management plans are written but not
communicated enough among stakeholders.

11. Practical comments
• Communication among stakeholders about goals,
monitoring and needed changes.
• Involvement youngsters, their parents and teachers
from primary and secondary schools: outside
classes and future planning.
• Adults should be involved to the tourism
development: study visits.
• There should be agreement between schools, park
authorities, municipalities and entrepreneurs

12. Very practical comments
• Equipment to manage with mosquitos:
• Garbage pins on the starting points of trails are
missing (there are different viewpoints).
• Safety on bog walks should be ensured, group
should go together and should be controlled by
responsible guide
• Water should be available all things what are
needed should be recommended to take with us
• Are the bogwalks environmentaly friendly at all?
• Going in lines on bog is not environmentally
friendly but how achieve safety matters ?

13. Tõramaa
Visitor Centre

14. 9 maintained trails within
the Natural park with
infrastucture like parking
and fire places etc.
6 of the trails are wooden
trails (duckbords)

15. Actictivities like:
- hiking, canoeing, kayaking, beaver
safaris, bog walking and shoeing,
wildlife watching, mushrooming and
berry picking, showshoeing, kick
sledging, cross country skiing and ice
fishing (www.soomaa.com)

16. .

17. Cooperation
• ... with international tourism certifiction and
labelling authorities.
• ... between different providers: activity tourism,
accommodation, very mobile catering service,
bogshoes making workshops. They don´t try to
provide everything themselves.
• ... between National Park and providers and
universities
• Active participation in decision making process
and in global tourism marketing: eg. Lonely
Planet, Adventure Travel, WHL Travel.

18. Future of tourism?
Active participation?

19. Strength of the area
• National parks have a lot of functions:
ecological, aesthetical, tourist, recreational,
educational, research, cultural. This means
this should guide to more diversified
products and services, that could lead the
destination to more diversified target groups
and markets.
• Proudness of people of the area

20. Combining nature conservation
to tourism
• The work is led by local people
• The spots are agreed with national park
management
• Workshops last from 3-5 hours
• You can combine guided walk with some
important work

21. Case: Summer Academy

26. Happy end ...