MikeLigalig.com

By JUNE S. BLANCO
   
  Bohol has had Korean, Chinese, American, Japanese and European visitors. Very
soon, however, the Russians will also come marching in.

  The “invasion” will be most welcome though as Ambassador Vitaly Vorobiev of the
Russian Federation said he will bring more of his countrymen – tourists and
investors –to the province.

  Vorobiev Friday spoke live over Bohol’s four radio stations – dyRD, dyTR, dyZD and
dyDL on invitation of Gov. Erico Aumentado during his weekly program The Governor
Reports simulcast from the Governor’s Mansion.

  Accompanied by Honorary Consul Armi Lopez Garcia whom he installed only the night
before at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu  City, Vorobiev said he looks forward
“to better cooperation between our two countries in many aspects.”

  “Your place is one of the main tourist destinations in your country so that the
Russian Federation chose to accredit its first Honorary Consul here,” he said,
referring to Garcia’s consular district that covers Cebu, Bohol and Boracay.

  He also said sister-province relationships are also widespread in Russia, and that
experience shows such relationship is very beneficial to good relations in areas
like energy and mining. He said he will also promote in the Russian market the
agricultural products of Bohol.

  The Russian minister is also due to visit the Philippines and meet President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in around a month’s time. This is opportune time to talk
sisterhood, joint ventures, investments and tourism, Vorobiev said.

  Education, health, culture and tourism are other possible areas of cooperation, he
added.

  For her part, Garcia who traces her roots to Loon town said during her previous
travels, she learned from first hand experience that when tour agencies in the
Russian Federation “think” of Cebu, they also inevitably “think” of Bohol such
that the latter has now become “the favorite destination of our Russian friends.”

  This augurs well for Bohol because Russian tourists usually stay for vacations of
even up to two weeks.

  “They also treasure the smiles and hospitability of the Boholanos and Cebuanos,”
she said.

  Garcia is the wife of Sun.Star Daily publisher and former Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Jesus Garcia.(July 7, 2007)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=2476.0