"Scandinavia's best-kept secret."† Tourism promotion, nation-branding, and identity construction in Estonia (with a free guided tour of Tallinn Airport). Issue 5 (20th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pawłusz, Emilia; Polese, Abel
• Is Part Of: Nationalities papers. Volume 45:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 873
• Page End: 892
• Publication Date: 2018-11-20
• Subjects: national identity -- nation-branding -- nation-building -- tourism -- heritage -- Estonia; Ethnology -- Europe, Eastern -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- Former Soviet republics -- Periodicals; Immigrants -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.8
• DOI: 10.1080/00905992.2017.1287167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0090-5992

Abstract

Abstract : This article surveys the official narrative on representation of Estonian identity and Estonianness through the tourism strategy implemented by Estonia from 2007 to 2015. Gathering material from brochures and documents targeting foreigners produced by the Estonian Institute and "Enterprise Estonia" (EAS) and analyzing the logic behind the interior design of Tallinn Airport, we engage with current debates on identity construction in post-Soviet spaces. In particular, we suggest that along with an established body of literature looking at the role of state actors in the construction of identity, studies should consider the role of nontraditional or non-state actors in identifying and promoting identity markers.