Thursday, January 11, 2007

Arrival of Russian Charters In Boracay To Spur Economy

A big group of Russian tourists who want to escape the harsh Russian winter arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday afternoon January 6 en route to a dream holiday on the world-famous Boracay resort island according to Rainier Allan Ronda and Helen Flores.
The 143 Russians arrived via a chartered Vlad Air flight from Vladivostok at around 1:50 p.m. They will stay in Manila until Friday, after which they will take an Asian Spirit flight to Caticlan for their Boracay holiday until January 16.
The Russians were drawn to sunny Boracay to escape the bitter winter in their country, during which the temperature could fall to below zero degrees centigrade.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is helping the Department of Tourism accommodate the Russian tourists and make their stay in the country trouble-free.
The group is the first of two large groups of Russians that responded to efforts by the Department of Tourism to promote Boracay. The second group composed of 260 Russians from Krasnyorasky in Siberia will arrive on Friday, January 12.
According to Director Edwin G. Trompeta of DOT, these charters are scheduled every first week of January in conjunction with the Orthodox New Year in Russia. This group is staying an average of 8-10 days.
Blue Horizon Travel and Tours, Inc. is the company handling the charter groups from Russia since early 1990’s with Boracay and Cebu as the main destinations.
The local governments of Aklan and Malay together with the DOT and the PNP has been requested to extend VIP courtesies to the group as well as ensure the safe, convenient and comfortable stay of the visitors while in the island.
The cooperation of the LGU and the composite security task force in Boracay has been requested considering that the island has limited entry and exit capabilities for the efficient handling in case of any emergency situation.
It is expected that Aklan province and Malay will realize considerable economic value from the charter.
Optimistic, Trompeta said that though disasters like typhoons and catastrophe like oil spill in Guimaras, have devastated the region with millions worth of properties and livelihood affected, the region has nevertheless recovered and has even seen the plus side of these problems.
The Province of Guimaras, for one, has had suffered from oil spill which accidentally happened in its strait and affected its shores and the livelihood of its fishers, has had attracted the eyes of domestic and foreign tourists. He called it a blessing in disguise.
The provinces of Capiz and Aklan, which suffered of agricultural and infrastructure devastation, have turned the heads of the political leaders for bigger growth and assistance.
Trompeta also projected that more domestic and foreign tourists would come over to the region to see more and more its beauty which was not yet unveiled.
According to Trompeta, around 3 million tourists, foreign and domestic, would come to the region in 2007.
This is higher to the total 2.5 million foreign visits the region gets this year. People from China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan are likely coming over this year. With the creation of convention centers here in Iloilo, the 88-room hotel in Boracay, which would be operational next year, Trompeta is certain the region will turn heads and boost its economy. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

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