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Lack of funding cancels MVA trip to Russia
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Posted on Apr 10 2005
The Marianas Visitors Authority has cancelled its trip to Russia due to lack of funding.
MVA had planned to send representatives to two major travel fairs in the Russian Far East and Siberia this month to promote the Northern Marianas in the new market.
The Dal Tour 2005 was held in Vladivostok on April 7-8, and the Siberian STI Spring Workshop will be conducted in the cities of Novosibirsk, Omsk, and Krasnoyarsk on April 14-16.
But MVA decided to call off the plan after it failed to identify funding for the delegation. The trip was estimated to cost $20,000. However, MVA had only $1,500 available.
Among members of the CNMI travel industry, Pacific Islands Club is currently one of the most aggressive in going after Russian visitors.
In a report, PIC Russian manager Elly Stoilova said the hotel resort has witnessed a steady increase in the number of Russian tourists staying at the facility.
Russian tourists, mostly coming from the Far East Russia cities of Khabarovsk, Yugno-Sakhalinsk, and Vladivostok, now comprise approximately five percent of PIC’s total market share, she added.
There are several advantages to attracting Russian visitors, according to Stoilova.
She said most of PIC’s Russian guests stay from one week up to three weeks at the hotel during each visit.
Many of them have come back to the island, as Russian people apparently like Saipan for its proximity to Russia, not-so-stringent immigration policy, and climate, among other reasons.
Some of the things most Russian guests complain about Saipan, however, are the prices of goods and services, the lack of activities and nightlife, the lack of “homegrown” products, and the lack of attractions that give tourists a feel of local traditions and culture.
“The Russians that travel abroad expect to find good service at a reasonable price, a lot of entertainment especially in the night time, and a concentration of historical-cultural-uniquely natural places they can go to,” Stoilova said.
With a total area of over 17 million sq. km. and a population of 144 million people, Russia is the largest and the 7th most populated country in the world. (Agnes E. Donato)
