Cebu slowly gains ground in incentive travel market

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is slowly gaining the interest of Russia’s growing incentive travel market and recently 200 Russians visited Cebu for a three-day incentive tour.

Russian Federation Consul Armi L. Garcia, said the group was composed of exactly 170 executives, employees and dealers of Megaphone, which is the biggest telecommunications company in Russia.

The Russian incentive travelers flew to Cebu via a chartered flight, Garcia said.

“The tour is actually part of Megaphone’s incentive or reward package for its employees and dealers who have made exceptional accomplishments for sustaining the success and growth of the cellular company,” Garcia said.

As part of their tour itinerary, the Russian visitors went straight to watch the now-famous Dancing Inmates perform at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center upon their arrival Monday. They are scheduled to fly back home on Thursday.

The Russian delegation, headed by Megaphone president Igor Maistrenko, was awarded Tuesday night by the Philippine Russian Business Assembly (PRBA) at the White Gold House where the PRBA also paid tribute to Maistrenko in a simple awarding ceremony for bringing his people to Cebu.

“Mr. Maistrenko should be given due recognition for choosing Cebu as Megaphone’s incentive tour destination,” said Garcia who is also president of the PRBA.

“This incentive tour does not only denote Megaphone’s firm commitment to help business relations between the Philippines and the Russian Federation but Mr. Maistrenko’s support to the Assembly as well,” she added.

“The visit is indeed a most welcome development as we celebrate 35 years of Philippine Russian relations this year,” Garcia added.

The incentive travel market is one of the hottest products that is now being pursued by the Philippines. (FREEMAN)