FOR RUSSIAN TRAVELERS: Cost only comes next to a good tour package

Despite the global economic slump, more Russians are still expected to travel outside their country, although not as active as the usual.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation Vitaly Y. Vorobiev said the Philippines could take advantage of the growing interest of Russians to travel in Asia, but it has to improve its accessibility and marketing promotion to the wealthy Russian tourists.

Last year, a total of 20 million Russians traveled to their favorite destinations including Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Vorobiev said the Philippines has a great potential to increase its attractiveness to the Russian tourists if it initiates an aggressive marketing campaign.

While other potential tourism markets outside of Asia, like United States and Europe are seeing a slowdown in international travels due to the global credit crunch, Vorobiev said more Russians are still set to push their vacations on schedule.

"Russian travelers will still grow, but less than expected," Vorobiev said in an interview during the recently concluded "The Russian Lifestyle Seminar" attended by tourism stakeholders in Cebu.

Aside from pushing air links direct from Russia to the Philippines, Vorobiev said there is also a great need for the country to invest on aggressive marketing campaign to the Russian market, adding that at present, there are only few marketing collaterals about the Philippines as a destination in Russia.

“The Russian travelers expect more attractions and striking packages from your country," the Ambassador said.

More importantly, a Philippine tourism guidebook should be translated into Russian in order to lure more Russians to come to the Philippines, he said.

"I've never seen a Philippine guide book in Moscow. I saw one, but in English. But, Malaysia is very aggressive in their marketing campaign in Russia," he stressed.

As of 2007, an average of only 12,000 Russians visited the Philippines, compared to 150,000 Russians who go to Thailand for vacation and leisure escapade.

Cebu for instance, Vorobiev said should make a total leisure travel package that would include other places in the Visayas, like Bohol, Negros, among others. "The legs are not so far from each other, you can do it," Vorobiev said referring to the proximity of the islands from Cebu.

If the Philippines or Cebu could make a good tourism package that will attract Russians, specifically showcasing exotic destinations, air links should not be the main problem, as Russians, will find a way to get to the Philippines, because of its tempting and hard to resist tourism attractions.