Philippines expects more Russian tourists as airlines secure direct flights

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is looking forward to welcoming more Russian visitors as Manila and Moscow work to expand direct air links, particularly to key tourist destinations, President Marcos said following his visit to Russia.

In an interview in Kazan on Thursday, Marcos said increasing connectivity between the two countries would benefit not only tourism but also trade and broader engagement.

“We’re not only talking about tourism. Of course, it’s an important part that we would like many… more Filipinos to go to see Russia, for more Russians to come and visit the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“Any kind of travel, any kind of engagement at any level…even if it’s purely commercial, even if it’s some hybrid arrangement that we might decide to come to. These are all elements that will help…the growth of our trade,” he said.

Marcos also recognized the development of an air service arrangement between Irkutsk and Kalibo, Aklan as a “good start,” noting that Cebu Pacific is also exploring the possibility of expanding its services.

“The single most important determinant of the volume of tourism and travel between two countries (is) the number of flights. The more flights you have, the more people come,” he said.

While no discussions were held on a visa-free arrangement for Filipinos traveling through Russia, Marcos said he is open to the idea if it would benefit both countries.

“We never got that far,” he said. “But you know, it’s something… We did it with India, we’ve done it with China. If it’s something that we feel will be of advantage to both Russia and the Philippines, I don’t see why not… I cannot find any serious objections to it.”

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Igor Garlit Bailen said Siberian airline IrAero began chartered flights last year from Irkutsk and Khabarovsk to Kalibo, providing Russian tourists easier access to destinations such as Boracay.

Bailen added that several Russian airlines are seeking approvals to operate direct flights to the Philippines’ top tourist destinations.

“This year, we are waiting for developments from the Civil Aeronautics Board of the Philippines because S7 Siberian Airlines applied to be able to fly again from Siberia, from the cities of Irkutsk, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, to Manila and to Cebu,” the ambassador said.

He said that more flights from Russian carriers are expected to materialize as the Philippines seeks to attract tourists from non-traditional markets beyond China, South Korea and the United States.

Russian tourists have shown strong interest in destinations such as Boracay and El Nido, while Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam remain the most popular Southeast Asian destinations among Russian travelers.

On investments, Marcos said no specific agreements were signed during the visit but noted that both countries were able to identify areas or sectors that they can further work on and develop.

The President arrived in Manila on Friday from Kazan, where he co-chaired the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.