Century developing Russian market

Efforts are now ongoing to actively develop the Russian tourism market, with Century Tours and China Eastern Airlines starting to bring tourists from Moscow into the Northern Marianas.

Century Tours assistant general manager Nomi Ma said yesterday that the Russian tourists are coming aboard the twice-weekly flights operated by China Eastern between Shanghai and Saipan.

This became possible after China Eastern started direct flights between Moscow and the Chinese city on May 11.

According to Ma, Century Tours has brought in two batches of Russian tourists so far. The first group, composed of 11 tourists and a translator, arrived on May 30 and left on June 4. Another batch of two people came last Wednesday for a one-week visit.

Ma also disclosed that the tour company is now in the process of hiring a translator, who can speak, read and write English and Russian, to assist the tourists coming to the islands.

She stressed the need to develop the Russian market, which she said sends mostly quality tourists.

“They are very rich people. And because they come from a far place, most of them want to stay longer—one week at the minimum. Unlike other tourists who rely on tour guides for their itinerary, most of the Russian tourists already know what they want to do and see before coming here. From what we’ve seen so far, diving seems to be the activity they’re most interested in,” Ma observed.

She said that Century Tours received mainly good feedback about Saipan from the tourists who have gone back to Russia. However, tourists have also said they wished there were tour activity materials available in Russian language.

Currently, Pacific Islands Club is probably the most aggressive in going after Russian visitors.

In a report issued months ago, 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 5 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 high 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.