During talks with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Philippine Ambassador to Russia, His Excellency Igor Bailen, they both agreed to capture the untapped market of high-spending Russian tourist traveling to Asia by proposing direct flights from Russia to Cebu.
Bailen said this would be an opportunity for the Philippines, especially Cebu to compete with other Asian destinations such as Thailand where more than 1.5 to 1.6 million Russian tourists travel and spend their money.
“And of course are very much interested in seeing other places! And that’s why they’ve been asking about flights to Cebu,” Bailen told Gov. Garcia. The governor also shared to Bailen Cebu’s experience with Russian tourists who are known to be high-spending and long staying.
Governor Garcia told the Ambassador that she aims to reach an agreement with Aeroflot, the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia for direct flights to Cebu as they have been turned down in Manila because the international airports there could no longer accommodate more international flights.
This Monday, June 3, 2024, Gov. Garcia has a scheduled meeting with the officials of Federal Air Transport Agency (FATA), the Russian government agency responsible for overseeing the civil aviation industry in Russia, to discuss how to move forward with this plan. The meeting will also be attended by officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) from Manila, the Philippine counterpart of FATA.
On Tuesday, the governor will also be meeting with the governor of St. Petersburg, the most important Russian City after Moscow, Governor Alexander Dmitriyevich Beglov and both will sign an agreement to renew the sister-region agreement between two provinces.
“Hopefully with your leadership on tourism, we’re going to encourage not just Filipino travellers to see the beauty of Cebu but (also) Russian tourists. We’ve been working very hard on that like yourself and Consul Armi. The Russians are very much interested,” Bailen said.
Bailen also praised Governor Garcia and Cebu for pursuing this diplomatic relations with Russia.
“Ever since, I do not see any other province or any other part of the Philippines moving forward on our relationship with the Russian Federation, and with other countries for that matter,” he said. “I’ve always believed, (and) I have known many any other ignited Filipinos, the leadership which Cebu has done for the nation, ever since, not just in tourism but in other areas of our national life, even in our challenged relationship in this country,” Bailen added.
Bailen said that there may be challenges due to the economic sanctions that other countries have imposed to Russia but these sanctions are slowly stopping and being withdrawn.
“I think Cebu, yourself, you can show our other leaders what opportunities we can still have because definitely, people to people contact between Russians and Filipinos is still very important. And we do not have instructions not to pursue this people to people contact,” Bailen emphasized.
Governor Garcia is leading a 16-member delegation who is now on an official trip to Russia to engage in several meetings and speaking engagements relating to tourism and business and showcase Cebu Province.
Aside from the meetings with FATA and Gov. Beglov, the governor is also invited to speak before the delegates of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2024) on two occasions to share Cebu’s experience in conducting beneficial and effective international relations with other provinces, cities and regions all over the world. | KNB/PIO