June 07, 2009 07:37 PM Sunday [ journal.com.ph ]
PRESS Secretary Cerge Remonde has cited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s gains especially in enticing more than 6. 5 million outbound Russian tourists into the Philippines.
Remonde said that among the key objectives of the President’s foreign visits is to promote Philippine tourism, pointing out that for the Russians, notably the high spenders, the Philippines is the most popular tourist destination in Asia.
Remonde made the remark after the signing Thursday of two parallel accords, one between the governments of St. Petersburg and Cebu province, and the other between the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry held at the Smoiny Historic St. Petersburg City Hall.
Remonde said the first “test of the pudding” will come in August this year when about 300 Russian tourists are expected to fly to Cebu.
Both accords were signed in the presence of President Arroyo.
Under the Cebu St. Petersburg accord, the Cebu provincial administration, headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, and the government of St. Petersburg, headed by Gov. Valentina Matvienko, agreed to promote the development of effective forms of joint industrial and commercial activities ... create favorable conditions for the development of comprehensive linkages of the economic activities.
The two parties also agreed to jointly organize festivals, cultural events, and facilitate development of mutually beneficial tourism activities.
Efren Montano
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