Estonia to Support the Organization of International Sports and Cultural Events

TALLINN – The Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) will open an application round on Monday for grants supporting international sports and cultural events, aiming to attract more foreign visitors to Estonia and enhance its reputation as an attractive travel destination.

The budget for this round is 525,000 euros, and it is estimated that the grants will support approximately seven international events.

“International sports and cultural events bring thousands of foreign visitors to Estonia, who use our accommodation, catering, and other tourism services. At the same time, these events help introduce Estonia to new target audiences and strengthen our reputation as a diverse, high-quality travel destination. We are opening a one-year application round to also support those international sporting events that could not participate in the previous three-year round, as their hosting rights are awarded on a yearly basis. The impact of these events extends beyond the tourism sector – every euro granted as support is estimated to bring two euros back to the state treasury,” said Orvika Reilend, Head of the Tourism Focus Area at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency.

Eligible applicants include companies, non-profit organizations, foundations, state agencies, and local government units and their institutions registered in Estonia. The grant amount ranges from 30,000 to 75,000 euros, and the applicant's own contribution must cover at least 30 percent of the project's eligible costs.

The grant is intended for organizing one-year international sports and cultural events in Estonia and marketing them to foreign markets. Supported events must be of international interest, last for at least two consecutive days, and attract a significant number of foreign visitors. An event held in Tallinn must attract at least 600 foreign visitors, while an event held outside Tallinn must attract at least 300.

Additionally, the event organizer must involve at least two small or medium-sized enterprises that serve foreign visitors in the project's planning and execution. The event's marketing activities must target at least one foreign market, and visitors must be provided with information about tourism opportunities in Estonia.

The grant can be used, for example, for preparing the event's international marketing, creating foreign-language websites, and participating in international fairs and events.

Applications will be assessed by a tourism evaluation committee established by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency. The greatest weight will be placed on the project's impact on the development of Estonian tourism and the achievement of strategic goals, as well as the capabilities of the organizer and project team, and the project's justification and cost-effectiveness.

The goal of the support measure is to increase the number of international events held in Estonia, boost the number of foreign visitors, and strengthen Estonia's position as a memorable and competitive travel destination.

Applications can be submitted from August 31 to October 14 through the structural funds' e-grant environment. More information on the grant conditions and application process is available on the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency's website.

The grant for international sports and cultural events is co-financed by the European Union.