Russian tourist arrivals in Phl increased to over 35K in 2013

CEBU, Philippines - The Russian market is considered to be an opportunity market for the Philippines that could fuel a tourist influx in the country and eventually help boost the national economy.

Department of Tourism (DOT) standards and regulation director Maria Rica Bueno said that the Russian market is one of the huge potential markets for the Philippines along with Koreans and Japanese.

She shared that the tourism department recorded an increase of 25.2 percent in terms of the arrivals of Russian tourists in the country. The Russian tourist arrivals grew from 28,270 in 2012 to 35,404 in 2013.

“Over the years, we are getting double digit growth from the Russian tourists. This is really an opportunity market for the Philippines,” Bueno said.

She then raised the need for industry players to work together in serving the preferences and requirements of the said market such as cleanliness and more tourist facilities.

She also said that they have to collaborate with other government agencies and coordinate with the private sector for corresponding investments.

Russian Federation Honorary Consul Armi L. Garcia said that the country should be prepared for the anticipated influx of Russian tourists this year.

“The Russian tourist market is already noticing us and taking us seriously. The compassionate traits of the Filipinos must have made a remarkable impression on the Russians as quite a number of them have already signified their intention to tour the Philippines, especially Cebu. We have to be prepared for their arrival,” she said.

She cited that the Philippine government recently granted Russian tourists a free visa extension from 21 days to 30 days, signifying the importance of the Russian market to the country.

She said that tourism could serve as an entry point of attracting more Russians to consider Philippines as a potential hub for trade development and investment.

Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco noted that Russia poses a huge market potential that the Philippines should take into serious consideration. He said that the Russian market is one of the fastest growing tourist markets globally. It registered an increase of 40 million Russian trips in 2013 from the eight million recorded in 2006.

Russian teacher and author Zinaida Potapurchenko said that the Philippines could capitalize on its warm climate which Russians love especially during their long holiday vacation that usually falls in a winter season.

She said that Russian travelers prefer to look for new tourist destinations aside from China. She added that although China has a strong civilization, the country is struggling with ecological problems that Russians are particular with.

The Russian Consulate of Cebu Philippines in partnership with DOT organized a forum dubbed as “Meet Russia” last Wednesday that is aimed at introducing the Russian market to Philippine tourism industry workers and re-acquainting the latter with the Russian culture.

This was attended by representatives from Russia and tourism players in the Philippines. The Russian Consulate together with the Philippine Russian Business Assembly (PRBA) and DOT, will also hold a Russian Language and Culture Course for tourism and hospitality industry workers in Cebu.

The 60-hour language crash course will be conducted by an expert teacher hired by the PRBA. Classes will start on February 25 and will be held at the Rizal Hall of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation along Rizal Avenue in Lahug. (FREEMAN)