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ECOCLUB, Issue 95
THE ECOCLUB INTERVIEW
AIVAR RUUKEL
“Travelling to your neighbours, meeting these people, talking to them makes
you understand them better and minimizes your fear
that they can be dangerous”
Aivar Ruukel is the owner-operator of SOOMAA.COM / Karuskose Ltd
an ecotour operator in Soomaa National Park
since 1994, and the Chairman of the Estonian Ecotourism Society
(ESTECAS).
Aivar also acts as a nature tourism trainer and public speaker.
Aivar is a winner of the Best Promoter of Tourism in 1997 by the Estonian
Association of Travel Agents, and recently recognised by the Estonian Hotel
and Restaurant Association as "Best in 2007".
Aivar is a founding member of various associations including the Estonian
Ecotourism Association, the Estonian Rural Tourism Association and the
Friends of Soomaa. He is also a Supporting member of Estonian Fund for
Nature and a Member of the Estonian Greens.
His hobbies include building traditional dugout canoes, picking up wild
mushrooms, Estonian and Fino-Ugric culture & history, and participating in
social networking sites online, but he also finds time to study Nature Tourism
at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
The Interview follows:
ECOCLUB.com: What are the main challenges for Ecotourism in
Estonia today, both in terms of domestic tourism legislation?
Aivar Ruukel:
The idea of sustainable use of resources in the Travel &
Tourism industry is not new in Estonia. Already in 1938 the Institute of Nature Preservation and Tourism was established, under
the Ministry of Social affairs, in order to address these issues.
Since regaining independence in 1991, Estonia has been
developing rapidly. An integral part of our country's transition to a market economy has been the harmonisation of Estonia's
legislation with the requirements of EU legislation. We do have good laws! But the challenge is in implementation... I do share
the idea of Ecotourism being a tool for sustainable development. Estonia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt a
Sustainable Development Act in 1995. Unfortunately, we can not report a huge success, in putting sustainability into real life.
Not yet!
ECOCLUB.com: Tourism being an international phenomenon, what role is there for national associations such as the
Estonian Ecotourism Association (ESTECAS)? And what if anything, should differentiate Ecotourism Associations from
ordinary Tourism Associations, in terms of procedures and operational mode?
Aivar Ruukel:
Estonian Ecotourism Association (ESTECAS) was established in 1994, as a non-governmental and non-profit
membership organisation. Every association should benefit its members. Difference with normal tourism associations is that
their members are normally tourism businesses, with their own business interests, thereby the common aim is a joint marketing,
product co-ordination, lobbying and similar. Ecotourism associations should unite different stakeholders across sectors -
businesses, as well as conservationists, academics, journalists, politicians, teachers, travellers etc. And the aim of Ecotourism
associations should be searching for a balanced use of resources for a locally beneficial development.
I think that different
countries can have different models for Ecotourism Associations. ESTECAS is a network of like-minded people, quite like a
club. It has no office, no paid stuff, but we do have a website, we do run meetings, seminars and we do partner in projects with
many other organisations.
ECOCLUB.com: Along with your political role, you have been actively conducting tours in Soomaa National Park
since 1994. What is special about Soomaa and how has tourism impacted on the park in these 13 years?
Aivar Ruukel:
Soomaa translates as Land of Marshes, it is a largest wilderness area in Estonia. Soomaa National Park was
established in 1993 to protect a vast complex of raised bogs, wet alluvial forests, with fens, transition mires, and unregulated
rivers with flood-plain and wooded meadows. Soomaa is home for lesser spotted eagles, golden eagles, black storks, corn
crakes, brown bears, wolves and lynx. Soomaa was included in the important nature protection areas of Europe in 1997
