Preparations underway for arrival of Russian tourists
Authorities are in the thick of preparations for the arrival of a huge group of Russian tourists to Boracay Island.
Civil aviation officials of both Russia and the Philippines met in the country last week to discuss the details of a direct flight from Vladivostok to Cebu, Department of Tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta said yesterday.
"It is more or less certain already," Trompeta said of the possibility of the direct flight from Russia.
He said that the first direct flight from Vladivostok carrying Russian tourists is expected to land at the Mactan International Airport in Cebu January next year.
Although nearby is an airport of international standards in Iloilo province, Cebu was chosen because it is an 'international gateway,' he explained.
Trompeta said that the direct flight to Cebu from Vladivostok was conceptualized "with Boracay Island in mind."
"A direct flight would make it more convenient for the Russian tourists to go to Boracay," the regional director pointed out.
Early this year, it took three days to transport a group of 450 Russian tourists to Boracay from Metro Manila, according to Trompeta.
Up to 1,500 Russian tourists are expected to arrive in Boracay anytime this month to February next year.
Trompeta said that the tourists will be 'wintering' in the island-resort.
Already, chefs and other frontliners in the tourism industry in the island have started learning Russian cuisines as well as basic conversational Russian.