Direct Russia-Cebu flights key to unlocking major Russian tourist market

Local

ESTABLISHING direct flights between Russia and Cebu is crucial to unlocking a potentially lucrative Russian tourism market that could bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Philippines, according to Philippine Honorary Consul to Russia Armi Lopez-Garcia

Lopez-Garcia said efforts to secure direct air connectivity between Russia and the Philippines have been underway for years, driven by strong interest from Russian travelers eager to visit the country.

"Every flight wants to come to the Philippines," Lopez-Garcia said, recalling meetings with Russian aviation and tourism officials in Moscow alongside Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Soco and Philippine Ambassador Igor Bailen.

"To our surprise, they were already applying to come to the Philippines,” she said in an open forum during the business forum on Friday, May 29.

However, geopolitical sanctions and concerns over protecting Russian airlines and aircraft have posed significant challenges to launching direct services.

Despite these obstacles, Lopez-Garcia said a breakthrough was achieved through the combined efforts of the Aklan provincial government, the Philippine-Russian Business Assembly, and local officials.

The partnership successfully facilitated direct flights from Irkutsk, Russia, to Aklan province, bringing approximately 200 Russian tourists every week.

"It was a challenge indeed. But with the support of the government of Aklan and the private sector, we succeeded in bringing IrAero flights into the Philippines,” she said.

The success of the Aklan route is now serving as a model for Cebu, which Lopez-Garcia hopes will soon become the next destination for direct Russian flights.

"The next will be Cebu. Cebu soon," she said.

Lopez-Garcia revealed that during discussions with Russian aviation officials, they expressed confidence in the Philippine market.

"They told us, 'If you will allow us to land in the Philippines, we assure you that we'll give you 600,000 tourists during the winter season,'" she said.

The target timeline for launching direct Russia-Cebu flights is the next winter season.

Long-Staying, High-Spending Visitors

Tourism stakeholders are particularly interested in attracting Russian travelers because of their spending habits and length of stay.

"The hospitality industry loves Russian tourists because they stay long," Lopez-Garcia said.

Unlike many regional tourists who stay only for a weekend, Russian visitors typically remain in the country for 30 days or more, often extending their vacations for several months. They frequently travel with family members and are known for immersing themselves in local culture.

"They really want to learn more about us. They try our food, they like bulalo, they like adobo, and they want to experience our culture," she said.

Lopez-Garcia also described Russian tourists as generous spenders who contribute significantly to local economies.

"If they see that you serve them well, they are also big spenders and big tippers," she added.

Moscow official sees strong potential

Viacheslav Manuylov, Deputy Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, echoed Garcia-Lopez's call for direct air links and stronger tourism cooperation.

"Russian people are a traveling nation. They love to travel and there is a very big demand for new destinations now,” Manuylov said.

He noted that Moscow welcomed approximately 26 million visitors last year, including about five million international tourists.

While Chinese visitors currently make up the largest share of international arrivals, Moscow is eager to attract more Filipino tourists.

"We are waiting for tourists from Cebu City to Moscow," he said.

Manuylov emphasized that direct flights remain the foundation for increasing tourist exchanges between the two destinations.

He cited Moscow's recent success in launching a direct route with Vietnam as an example of what could be achieved through government and airline cooperation.

Beyond air connectivity, he stressed the importance of stronger tourism promotion in Russia through travel publications, social media campaigns, trade fairs, and business-to-business partnerships.

"We have to work together.

We need a product on the market for people to buy these tours,” Manuylov said.

He added that while many Russian travelers currently prefer independent travel, coordinated tourism programs and direct flights could significantly increase visitor numbers and strengthen ties between Russia and the Philippines.(MyTVCebu)