The Philippines is expecting Russian tourists to visit the country as more Russian airliners seek approval to operate direct flights from Russia to the country's top tourist destinations, a Filipino envoy said.

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Igor Garlit Bailen said Russian tourists are interested in visiting the Philippines, especially world-renowned destinations such as Boracay and El Nido.

"And this year, we're waiting for a development from the Civil Aeronautics Board of the Philippines because S7 Siberian Airlines applied to be able to fly again from Siberia, from the cities of Irkutsk, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk, to Manila and to Cebu," Bailen said in an interview with Palace Press Officer and communications Undersecretary Claire Castro in Kazan, Russia.

According to Bailen, Siberian airline IrAero started chartered flights last year from Irkutsk and Khabarovsk in the Russian far east in Siberia, direct to Kalibo, Aklan.

Bailen said they expect additional flights from other airlines to materialize, bringing more Russian tourists to the Philippines to experience Filipino hospitality, as the country looks to non-traditional sources of tourism beyond China, South Korea, and the US.

The Russians are interested in visiting the Philippines, Bailen said, highlighting the importance of enticing more Russian tourists to the country given their spending.

“So iyan ay dine-develop pa natin (So, that's what we are developing) so that in terms of economic relationship, tourism is a very important part of the economic relationship and there is great potential, aside from the traditional exports, imports of oil, energy, and food,” Bailen said.

The ambassador noted that Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are the top destinations for Russian tourists among the Southeast Asian countries.

Castro and Bailen are accompanying President Marcos at the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.