Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, reporting from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013, Vientiane
TTGAsia.com
SOUTH-EAST Asia is recording significant growth in Russian arrivals, who are spilling over beyond Thailand and into neighbouring countries.
“Russia is now one of the fastest-growing source markets for Vietnam. Last year, we recorded a dramatic growth of about 70 per cent,” said Tran Phu Cuong, deputy director general, international cooperation department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, at the ASEAN NTOs + Russia meeting.
Tith Chantha, director general, Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, noted a similar trend. He said: “Last year, Cambodia welcomed 100,000 Russian tourists, marking a 50 per cent increase from the year before. For 2013, we are targeting 30-40 per cent growth.”
Head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism, Alexander Radkov, said that more than one million Russians visited South-east Asia last year, with Thailand being the top destination (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 27, 2012), though Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore were becoming increasingly popular.
However, regional NTOs told TTG Asia e-Daily that a key challenge was still the lack of Russian-speaking guides, an issue that is being addressed.
Said Yuri Kopylov, vice-rector of Russian State University for Tourism & Service: “We will widen the format of language courses to include language immersion courses in Russia; previously it was just an e-learning programme for tour operators on the Internet, followed by a one-month course in Jakarta. We are also in discussion with PATA to foster closer links for exchange programmes and internships between Russia and ASEAN.”
Radkov added: “We still have to remove barriers such as visa formalities and improve security for Russian tourists in South-east Asia.”
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