Delegation of foreign journalists and travel agents visit Tartu Maraton
In addition to the number of foreign skiers who take part in the 41st Tartu Maraton this weekend, a group of foreign journalists and travel agents will visit the popular mass sport event this year. T
he group members represent different ski magazines and travel agencies with former experiences in organising marathon trips. Six different countries are covered – Italy, Sweden, Russia, Germany, Norway and Switzerland – and half of the group has decided also to enjoy the race themselves. The aim of the group visit is to introduce Tartu Marathon as well as South-Estonia in general as an attractive tourism area to spend an active holiday. The journalists and travel agents are spending four days in Estonia in the framework of the programme. In addition to visiting and participating the events of the ski marathon, the guests will be given an overview of Estonian university town Tartu and take a trip to Põlvamaa, one of the most beautiful parts of South-Estonia.
„Today Tartu Marathon has more than 1200 foreign participants. This means that together with friends and family members, the marathon brings approximately 1500-2000 tourists to Estonia. Our aim for the future, as well as the aim of the press and fam trip organised this year, is to increase the amount of foreign skiers up to 20% of the total participants during the 5 upcoming years,“ says Indrek Kelk, the Director of the 41st Tartu Marathon.
The trip of foreign journalists and travel agents is a part of a bigger project aimed at introducing Tartu Marathon among foreign target groups. The project is also supported by Enterprise Estonia. During 2011 – 2012, there are several activities included in the project, among others producing an international TV broadcast of the marathon, publishing information materials in different languages and distributing them, etc. The overall aim of the project is to make marathon and South-Estonia as an attractive tourism place more visible in foreign market and to increase number of tourists spending their holiday in Estonia.
41st Tartu Marathon, also a part of Ski Classics and Worldloppet series, is held this Sunday, February 19th.
Photo: Robert Faherty (USA), who finished the Open Track of Tartu Marathon as his 10th Worldloppet marathon and was given the honourable title of Worldloppet Master.
Further information about the 41st Tartu Marathon: www.tartumaraton.ee