Variables defined by the EU common methodology have been used:

‘usual environment’ means the geographical area, though not necessarily a contiguous one, within which an individual conducts his regular life routines and shall be determined on the basis of the following criteria: the crossing of administrative borders or the distance from the place of usual residence, the duration of the visit, the frequency of the visit, the purpose of the visit;
‘tourism’ means the activity of visitors taking a trip to a main destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal purpose, other than to be employed by a resident entity in the place visited;
‘domestic tourism’ means visits within a Member State by visitors who are residents of that Member State;
‘outbound tourism’ means visits by residents of a Member State outside that Member State;
‘national tourism’ means domestic and outbound tourism;
‘non-rented accommodation’ means, inter alia, accommodation provided without charge by family or friends and accommodation in owner-occupied vacation homes, including time share properties;
‘same-day visits’ means visits without overnight stay made by residents outside their usual environment and which originated from the place of usual residence.

See Regulation 692/2011, Delegated Regulation 2019/1681 and Methodological Manual for Tourism Statistics.

Trip – business trips (meetings, conferences, seminars, further training, etc.), irregular visits to relatives and friends (birthdays, weddings, funerals, graduations, other family celebrations; communal work, etc.), attending cultural events (concerts, theatre performances, sports competitions, etc.), holiday trip (to the beach, skiing, water park, etc.), shopping trip; visiting a summer cottage, country house, parents or children, if this occurs less than once a week during the reference period.

Expenditure on an overnight domestic trip – expenses per domestic trip. This includes expenditure on transport for the domestic trip, expenditure on accommodation, on food and drink in cafés and restaurants, and other expenditure (entertainment, purchases, services, incl. durable goods and valuables).

Expenditure on an overnight outbound trip – expenses per outbound trip. This includes expenditure on transport for the outbound trip, expenditure on accommodation, on food and drink in cafés and restaurants, and other expenditure (entertainment, purchases, services, incl. durable goods and valuables).

Participation in tourism: the individual
Tourism trips: the tourism trip with at least one overnight stay made by the individual.
Same-day visits: the SDV made by the individual.

Participation in tourism: All residents aged 15 or over

Tourism trips: All tourism trips of at least one overnight stay made outside the usual environment by the residents aged 15 or over.

 Same-day visits: All SDV made outside the usual environment by the residents aged 15 or over.

Target population covers permanent residents of Estonia aged 15 years and older, excluding persons staying in institutions on a long-term basis (at least a year).

2006

2006

2006

2006

Regulation 692/2011

Regulation 1051/2011

Delegated Regulation 2019/1681

Official Statistics Act

Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process; this information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

• The data is comparable from 2006 and onwards;
• The data is used by the media, several organisations (e.g. Bank of Estonia, Enterprise Estonia), as an input for Balance of Payments etc., and therefore holds a significant relevance;
• The indicators are useful and necessary in order to analyze travel patterns, travel costs, visited places by different social demographical background variables, which are necessary variables in order to improve Estonian tourism sector.
• Evaluating the impact of seasonal demand helps to develop a strategy for alleviating seasonality.

• As the tourism data on Estonian residents was previously collected with different surveys and there had been several methodological changes, therefore the data of different years might not be comparable.

Since 2016, the data collection process changed from quarterly basis to monthly basis, which helps the respondents with answering. They will only have to memorise the trips taken in the previous 2 months or 1 month. 

CAWI response rate is increasingly higher, however the rise from the previous survey year is not significant. 

The main commissioner of the survey is the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) and it is conducted internationally. The data of the survey are also used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN Tourism.

See: Regulation 692/2011

The data and indicators calculated on the basis thereof are used by public sector institutions such as Eesti Pank, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Finance, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), and Tallinn City Government. Media outlets are also interested in the data.

Users‘ suggestions and information about taking them into account are available on the website.

Compliant with the requirements of Regulation on tourism statistics, as well as recommendations laid down in the Methodological Manual for tourism statistics. 

The preparation of the survey and the collection of data are based on the regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council (see "Legal acts and other agreements"). The data are complete and comply in particular with the data requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

All required data have been collected, calculated, and transmitted to Eurostat (incl. microdata). Not all data are published in Statistics Estonia's database, partly due to confidentiality reasons. We publish the main indicators according to the needs of users; for example, data on domestic trips are also published by county.

590323

5,74

60020

16,84

5025038

1,19

3479465

1,44

1545574

1,29

4320250

1,49

704788

5,37

1745106

3,10

1734359

3,24

2347161263

3,14

729865900

3,93

R package srvyr was used for the coefficient of variation calculation. 

No

No

208

10769

1257

1628

0

126

3011

27,96

28,55

27,76

Unit non-response for Trips dataset and unit non-response rate are calculated on an annual basis. CAWI-Reminder letters, CATI - repeated calls at different times of the day

Significant item non-response is observed in all expenditure categories and in household income.

Imputation of expenditure and income data is used. First the bands of the income or expenditure are imputed for those who refused or didn’t know the answer. For the income bands the place of residence, gender, age, household type and the number of children in the household aged under 15 years are used. The exact income is imputed using the hot-deck method. For the expenditure bands the gender, age, variables about the trip are used. Then the exact expenditure is imputed according to the bands using IveWare.

Statistics Estonia aims to reduce the amount of non-sampling errors through continuous improvement of the methodology and the survey process, e.g. by adopting computer-assisted data collection which helps to prevent coding and typing errors. The data are checked in three stages: initial check upon data entry during the interview (on the laptop), secondary check of newly received data at the office, and finally data cleaning. Data entry mistakes have decreased thanks to the continuing development of primary logic checks in the data entry program. All extreme values are checked and dealt with individually.

Coverage error is not measured, but since the frame is based on register data, under- or over-coverage of the survey is expected to be minimal. The frame is a list of permanent residents of Estonia aged 15 or over, compiled on the basis of the Population Register.

Imputation rate

Income 46%

Total expenditure 5%

F24 expenditure on transport 18%

F25 expenditure on accommodation 30%

F26 expenditure on food and drinks 19%

F27 other expenditure 15%

F28 expenditure on durables and valuable goods 49%

Imputation rate on expenditure on durables varies greatly from year to year due to low number of values and can be quite high due to questionary. The expenditure on durables is part of the sum on other expenditure and is asked only if other expenditure is over 300€. In many cases respondents do not know the amount of durables or the specification of durables seems to be difficult.

90

90

90

The data were transmitted by the deadline set by Eurostat.

The data were transmitted by the deadline set by Eurostat.

The data were transmitted by the deadline set by Eurostat.

Quarterly and annual data tables are coherent, annual data tables are obtained by summing quarterly data

See 3.8.1

In 2006–2013, the tourism of Estonian residents was studied in the appendix to the Estonian Labour Force Survey (2006), to the General Household Survey (2007-2009, 2013) or to the Household Budget Survey (2010-2012), since 2014 in the Tourism Survey. In the Estonian Labour Force Survey and in the Household Budget Survey data about travelling of all working-age household members of a person included in the sample were collected, in the General Household Survey and the Tourism Survey only persons included in the sample were interviewed. In 2015, in addition to tourism questions, there was a culture module as well in the Tourism Survey.

In the General Household Survey 50% were telephone interviews and 50% were face-to-face interviews. In 2014, in the Tourism Survey, all interviews were telephone interviews. Since 2015, the respondents were interviewed by using telephone or face-to-face interviews.

Due to contacting the survey as an appendix to the other surveys or as a separate survey and changes in the interview mode, the differences in data by years can be caused by a change in the methodology. Due to the coronavirus, only two methods have been used since 2020- CAWI and CATI. 

Quarterly and annual data tables are coherent, annual data tables are obtained by summing quarterly data

See 3.8.2

In 2006–2013, the tourism of Estonian residents was studied in the appendix to the Estonian Labour Force Survey (2006), to the General Household Survey (2007-2009, 2013) or to the Household Budget Survey (2010-2012), since 2014 in the Tourism Survey. In the Estonian Labour Force Survey and in the Household Budget Survey data about travelling of all working-age household members of a person included in the sample were collected, in the General Household Survey and the Tourism Survey only persons included in the sample were interviewed. In 2015, in addition to tourism questions, there was a culture module as well in the Tourism Survey.

In the General Household Survey 50% were telephone interviews and 50% were face-to-face interviews. In 2014, in the Tourism Survey, all interviews were telephone interviews. In 2015, the respondents were interviewed by using telephone or face-to-face interviews.

Due to contacting the survey as an appendix to the other surveys or as a separate survey and changes in the interview mode, the differences in data by years can be caused by a change in the methodology. Due to the coronavirus, only two methods have been used since 2020 - CAWI and CATI. 

Quarterly and annual data tables are coherent, annual data tables are obtained by summing quarterly data

See 3.8.3

In 2006–2013, the tourism of Estonian residents was studied in the appendix to the Estonian Labour Force Survey (2006), to the General Household Survey (2007-2009, 2013) or to the Household Budget Survey (2010-2012), since 2014 in the Tourism Survey. In the Estonian Labour Force Survey and in the Household Budget Survey data about travelling of all working-age household members of a person included in the sample were collected, in the General Household Survey and the Tourism Survey only persons included in the sample were interviewed. In 2015, in addition to tourism questions, there was a culture module as well in the Tourism Survey.

In the General Household Survey 50% were telephone interviews and 50% were face-to-face interviews. In 2014, in the Tourism Survey, all interviews were telephone interviews. In 2015, the respondents were interviewed by using telephone or face-to-face interviews.

Due to contacting the survey as an appendix to the other surveys or as a separate survey and changes in the interview mode, the differences in data by years can be caused by a change in the methodology. Due to the coronavirus, only two methods have been used since 2020 - CAWI and CATI. 

Household survey on tourism

Turismiuuring (Eesti elanike reisimine)

Tourism survey (Travelling of Estonian Residents)

The population register was used as the data source for the permanent residents between the years 2006 and 2012.
2013-2018 the list of permanent residents of Estonia was based on the 2011 Population and Housing Census and the population register.
Since 2019 the statistical population register is used for the population frame. Statistical population register contains all permanent residents of Estonia, for methodology see this website.

The frame is a list of permanent residents of Estonia aged 15 or over, excluding persons staying in institutions.

Coverage error is not measured, but since the frame is based on register data, under- or over-coverage of the survey is expected to be minimal.

10977

844

10132

Gross sample size for trips includes sample persons from this year’s Jan-Dec and from next year’s Jan. Information is collected about overnight outbound trips, which ended in the 2 previous months. Therefore, next year’s Jan sample persons can list trips made in the previous year.
Gross sample size for participation in tourism includes sample persons from this year’s Dec (the only month that related questions are asked in the questionnaire).
Gross sample size for (outbound) same-day visits includes sample persons from this year’s Jan-Dec.

7758

593

7180

Net sample size for trips includes respondents from this year’s Jan-Dec and from next year’s Jan.

Net sample size for participation in tourism includes respondents from this year’s Dec.

Net sample size for (outbound) same-day visits includes respondents from this year’s Jan-Dec.

The sampling design is a stratified systematic sampling of individuals. Only the sampled person (residents of Estonia aged 15 or over) was included to the survey.

Strata are formed by counties (according to person’s living address):

1 – large counties (Harju, Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Pärnu, Tartu)

2 – small counties (Jõgeva, Järva, Lääne, Põlva, Rapla, Saare, Valga, Viljandi, Võru)

3 – Hiiu county

The interviews were conducted every month.

Reference year 2024: CATI (89%), CAWI (11%)

Turismi uuring 2024. Ankeet. 

Not available

Not available

5 (in 2024)

10 (in 2024)

During the interviews, all entered data is checked. Errors can be either hard or soft. Interviewer can suppress soft errors but must correct all hard errors during the interviews. Interviewer can add remarks. All remarks are checked at the NSI. Additionally all questions answered with "other" are checked at the NSI.

Input data are checked and, if necessary, revised in accordance with the rules laid down. The calculated statistics are checked for compliance with quality requirements: data are compared with those of previous periods, the internal coherence, population coverage and response rate are checked.

Some important checks are:

1. Date of arrival from trip must be in reference period.
2. The person can be only on one trip at the same time.
3. The number of nights in different accommodation establishments must be equal to total number of nights.
4. Expenditures are checked using minimum and maximum expenditure per trip and per night.
5. If rented accommodation is used, presence of expenditure on accommodation is checked.

Missing data about the expenditures are sent to the methodologist for the imputation. 

Before sending microdata file to Eurostat EBB is used for data validation.

Second survey or source not used.

Imputation is used for all expenditure and income variables where the respondents answer was „don't know“, „refuse“ or where only an interval of expenditure or income was given. Imputation is also used for calculating transport and accommodation expenditures when package trips were used.

In the case of missing or unreliable data, estimate imputation based on established regulations will be used. In the Tourism survey, expenditure on trips, disposable income of household and the respondent's level of education are imputed. Regression imputation is mainly used. The hot-deck method is used to impute disposable income of household.

Based on questions regarding the respondents' household composition, household types are calculated. Using questions about the reference person, their education level is calculated. The employment situation of the respondent is calculated using the questions regarding their work life. Income variables are used for calculating quartiles.

Variables which were not collected but which are necessary for producing the output are calculated or obtained from registers. New variables are calculated by applying arithmetic conversion to already existing variables. This may be done repeatedly, the derived variable may, in turn, be based on previously derived new variables.

Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes aggregating the data according to the classification, and calculating various statistical measures, e.g. average, median, dispersion, etc.

The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes calculating additional indicators.

Second survey or source not used.