DOT eyes more European tourists

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism is eyeing more European tourists in the country. European tourists, particularly French and Russians, prefer to have longer vacations and are known to spend more.

Outgoing Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the department is joining the Otdykh Leisure 2011 in Moscow and the International French Travel Market (FTIM) TipResa fairs next month with the theme “Lifestyle Philippines” to invite more Russian and French tourists to visit destinations in the country.

Lim said European tourists are most interested in beach destinations. Citing tourism statistics, Lim said French and Russian tourists stay in the country for an average of 13 to 18 nights. Russia is also now among the fastest growing tourism markets in the country, totaling 14,642 visitors last year. In the first six months of 2011, DOT recorded a total of 9,820 visitors arriving from that country. The number of arrivals was 34.48 percent higher compared to the number of Russian tourists who visited the country during the same period last year. A total of 27,302 tourists from France, meanwhile, visited the country in 2010. The arrival number is 11.11 percent higher than the number of arrivals last year.

The Otdykh Leisure Fair in Moscow is the largest autumn travel fair in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Tourist spots that offer long stays in beach resorts and exotic destinations-such as those offered in the Philippines-are most sought-after. The DOT will also hold a post-event selling mission in St. Petersburg to maximize the participation of travel industry partners.