167 Russian tourists to arrive here in January

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism expects one hundred and sixty-seven Russian tourists to visit the country by first week of 2010 to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas and to escape the biting winter cold in their country and spend their holiday vacation here in the Philippines.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said that the group will arrive in Cebu on January 4 via a chartered flight from Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

He said that he is “pleased” to welcome the New Year with the “bulk arrival” of Russian tourists.

“Our efforts in the Russian market continue to bear fruit despite challenges in the global travel market,” he said.

Durano told The FREEMAN that Magelan, which is one of Russia’s biggest tour operators, is the first tour operator to organize chartered flight to Cebu and Boracay.

He said that the visit of Russians here has been an annual charter to the country.

The 167 Russian tourists will be staying from January 4-17, 2010.

The group’s ground handler is Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc.

“This is the third Russian charter arrival for the Russian Christmas season. Last December 27, two charter flights from Russia’s eastern regions arrived in the country - one landing in Manila bearing 87 passengers from Kamchatka and the other landing in Cebu carrying 100 passengers from Vladivostok,” Durano said. — Marjun A. Baguio, UC intern/MEEV (FREEMAN NEWS)