Russian carrier Vladivostok Air inaugurated a twice weekly service between Vladivostok and Singapore, via Hong Kong on October 21, the ninth new route to be introduced at Singapore’s Changi International Airport this year. The airline is using a two-class Airbus A320 on the route every Tuesday and Friday.
There are strong and growing trade and tourism ties between Singapore and Russia and since the launch of the Russia-Singapore Business Forum (RSBF)1 in 2006, bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled, reaching S$5.2 billion in 2010.
With several Singapore-based companies already establishing inroads to the Russian Far East, this new connection will stimulate further business links between Singapore and Vladivostok as well as the greater Primorsky Krai region – the largest economy in the Russian Far East.
Passenger traffic between Singapore and Russia reached an all-time-high of 65,000 in 2010, representing a 31 per cent growth year-on-year. Singapore also welcomed 55,000 Russian visitors in 2010, according to official Tourism Board statistics, an increase of nine per cent compared to 2009.
During the first eight months of this year, air traffic movements and visitor arrivals from Russia increased by a further 34 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
Vladivostok Air’s new service introduces a new holiday destination for Singapore residents. For Russian Far East travellers, a potential market of 6.5 million, Singapore is not only a destination for tourism, medical and education activities, but an excellent transit point to destinations in Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific.
“With the introduction of world-class tourism offerings in Singapore, we are seeing more Russian visitors twinning Singapore with another Southeast Asian destination to create fun-filled ‘city-plus-beach’ holiday experiences,” said Mr Yam Kum Weng, Executive Vice President for Air Hub Development, Changi Airport Group.
“With its extensive network and flight options to Southeast Asia, Changi Airport is a convenient gateway for Russian travellers to reach many renowned resort destinations such as Bintan, Bali and Phuket. Vladivostok Air’s entry into the Singapore market is therefore timely to serve the growing demand of Russian travellers wanting to explore Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia,” he added.
Related Content
