Russian tourist arrivals on the rise

CEBU, Philippines - Hoteliers noted an increasing number of Russian tourists coming to Cebu for leisure travel escapades.

Quest Hotel & Conference Center-Cebu general manager Mia Singson-Leon said that aside from Koreans, the hotel has been registering a good number of Russian bookings as well as Chinese, Taiwanese, and Americans.

The continuous inflow of tourists Leon said breaks the traditional cycle in the hospitality business. Supposedly, June, August, going to September are considered as lean season of the tourism industry, but she said, the flow or cycle has changed, and Cebu is enjoying a relatively high occupancy rate all year round.

Be Resorts group, which operates resort properties in Mactan Island and Bohol, also noted the rise of Russian guests, said group's area communication manager Ronalaine F. Sato.

Sato said in the last few months, Be Resorts, specifically its property the Be Grand Resort in Panglao, Bohol saw a good number of Russian and Australian guests.

Sato added that travel groups and familiarization tours from Russia and Australia have also increased in the recent months.

Meanwhile, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa recently concluded a 10-day roadshow in two big cities in Russia--Moscow and St. Petersburg last month in May.

The resort's general manager Efren Belarmino said the company's initiative to bring 18 of its selected staff (including the famous dancing staff) to promote Cebu and the Philippines to the emerging Russian market, is in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's move to tighten the Philippines' link with Russia.

Duterte's friendly gesture to make Russia as a strong Philippine ally, is expected to bring in influx of these high-spender travelers to the country.

President Duterte made his landmark state visit to Russia last month, and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

However, despite the increasing number of Russian tourists staying at the resort for the past few months, Belarmino said their roadshow delegation found out that Russian travel operators have limited knowledge and recall of the Philippines as a destination, much less part of most Russian travelers' bucket list.

Belarmino said the Philippines, or Cebu in particular, has huge potential to draw in more high spender Russians, but proper link and intensified promotions shall be initiated. (FREEMAN)