Tallinna Maraton earned 3.5 million for Estonian economy

The Estonian Institute of Economic Research completed its economic effect report on Tallinna Maraton – sports event with the largest number of foreign participants in Estonia. The director of the Estonian Institute of Economic Research Marje Josing said when introducing the report that organising a sports event increases the popularity of the location, promotes tourism and brings direct and indirect benefit for the entrepreneurs in the area. Sports tourism holds a ten-percent share in the world tourism industry and the economic effect sports events have on a region lasts after the event is over. Companies related with organising Tallinna Maraton gained reputation, turnover and new clients. The entrepreneurs consider it very important that the event would also take place next year.

The marathon brought in 3.4 million euros to the region, which provided nearly 0.5 million euros of sales tax and additionally income and social tax. There were slightly less than five thousand foreign participants in 2019 Tallinna Maraton, who spent on average three days in Estonia and spent in total 332 euros per person. On average, every race participant had one person with them who did not participate in the event. The total impact of Tallinna Maraton is more than just the direct economic effect, including, among else, promoting active lifestyle and the habit of moving, and introducing Tallinn as a possible tourism destination, Marje Josing said summing up.

More than twenty-three thousand sports enthusiasts registered for Estonia’s largest international sports event. This year, 21,494 runners from 65 countries finished the different events. Next year, the public’s interest will likely be even more significant, because in 2020, both the marathon and half-marathon of Tallinna Maraton will be IAAF Bronze Level races. The higher the competition’s ranking is in the global IAAF qualification, the more rating points can Estonian runners earn in future also at home, which is a significant prerequisite for our runners reaching title competitions.

Due to the presumed increased interest and rules valid for international level races, the event programme is amended so the races do not overlap timewise. Several innovations are planned for smoother servicing both at the race office and on the course. The three-day event of Tallinna Maraton and Sügisjooks 2020 involving the best athletes and thousands of enthusiasts starts on Friday, 11 September with 5 km Nike Noortejooks, continues on Saturday, 12 September with half-marathon (21.1 km) and 10 km Sügisjooks, and the grand final is on Sunday, 13 September with marathon (42.2 km) and kid’s races.