The year 2025 brought global recognition to Lahemaa
The year 2025 was busy and successful for the Lahemaa Tourism Association. In its sixth year of operation, the association continued extensive tourism collaboration, and Lahemaa once again gained international attention as a sustainable tourism destination. Since its establishment, the association has participated in the global green destinations program Green Destinations, achieving the highest – platinum level. Additionally, Lahemaa was selected in 2025 for the fifth time among the world’s TOP 100 sustainable destinations.
Lahemaa’s stories of sustainable tourism
The TOP 100 competition for green destinations requires the submission of a success story in sustainable tourism each year. Lahemaa’s stories have been diverse: from creatively celebrating European Protected Areas Day under pandemic conditions and directing visitors to training local guides, to promoting bike rentals and public transport. In 2025, a story was submitted focusing on the modern use of Soviet-era military heritage in tourism, which brought Lahemaa into the world’s top six for the first time in the culture and traditions category.
International interest in Lahemaa’s cooperation model
The activities of the Lahemaa Tourism Association have also caught the attention of the international research community. The association’s leader, who is simultaneously a PhD student at the Estonian University of Life Sciences studying cooperation models in national park management, was invited in the fall of 2025 to share experiences at several prestigious conferences. Presentations at the Nordic Tourism and Hospitality Science Symposium in Denmark, the Global Congress of Green Destinations in France, and the Europark conference in Lithuania sparked lively interest in how a small community association can implement such impactful initiatives with the support of volunteers.
The Lahemaa community, local food, and new tourism products
An important part of the Lahemaa Tourism Association’s work is related to bringing together and supporting the people of Lahemaa. Since 2024, participation in the Interreg Central Baltic Program’s international cooperation project has facilitated the organization of guide training and the development of new tourism services. In the spring of 2025, nine new business ideas were completed, and a public seminar was held featuring world-renowned expert in regenerative travel Anna Pollock, who highly praised Lahemaa’s community tourism initiatives.
The NGO Arenduskoda, funded by the Leader cooperation project “Northern Estonia’s Surface Flavors!”, celebrated the Lahemaa Picnic Day again in 2025, initiated the Lahemaa Community Tourism Development Program, and consolidated regional events under the common name of community festivals. As a result of the development program, around ten village routes will be completed by the spring of 2026, showcasing Lahemaa’s villages, people, and local food, offering visitors direct and authentic experiences.
Members of the Lahemaa community tourism development program on a study trip in Setomaa.
Awards for Lahemaa entrepreneurs
The Lahemaa Tourism Association has 80 members who actively contribute to the development of Lahemaa. In 2025, the following received recognition for their outstanding activities:
Vihula Manor – European Luxury Rural Retreat 2025
Veljo Tormis Cultural Society – Harju County Nonprofit of the Year 2025
Vergi Harbor & Restaurant Wirkes – Lääne-Viru County Tourism Promoter 2025
Wanderlust Matkad was selected among the top five in the Estonian entrepreneurship competition
Plans for 2026
In 2026, the Lahemaa Tourism Association will continue its traditional Lahemaa tourism forums, organize a tourism fair, work on the region’s visual identity development, and celebrate the 55th anniversary of Lahemaa National Park together with partners. The Lahemaa Tourism Association invites all tourism enthusiasts and entrepreneurs in the region to contribute ideas and participate. More information can be found on Visit Lahemaa’s Facebook and on this very website. At the heart of all our activities are the people of Lahemaa and the desire to keep our home a place where both we and our guests feel good.
