Pärnu County
Estonia's summer capital with Baltic beaches and spa tourism, generating 4% of GDP from seasonal visitor flows.
Pärnu County is Estonia's summer capital—a Baltic coastal region where beach tourism and spa traditions date to the 19th century. The county generates 4% of national GDP, ranking fourth behind the economic centers but first among regions without major universities or Soviet-era industry.
Tourism drives the distinctive economy. Pärnu's beaches attract Estonian and Finnish visitors seeking affordable seaside vacation. Spa hotels exploit mineral waters and wellness traditions established under Russian imperial and Soviet regimes. This seasonal activity creates employment but with characteristic income instability.
Manufacturing complements tourism. Food processing, textile production, and light industry provide year-round employment. Port facilities at Pärnu handle modest cargo volumes. This diversification reduces but doesn't eliminate tourism dependency.
The biological pattern is seasonal metabolism: Pärnu's economy pulses with summer tourism flows while attempting to maintain baseline activity during quieter months. The challenge is converting seasonal visitors into sustained economic development.