The Russians have arrived.

[fifi]

Translated from Canarias 7. http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=271712



08/13/2012
Nathalie Tours bring the first Russian tourists  to Fuerteventura


The first Russian tour operator Nathalie Tours-NT   arrived this weekend via Tenerife to Fuerteventura due to the agreement signed between Binter Canarias and the Tourist Board.

This type of operation between South Tenerife and Fuerteventura airport will be transitional until a direct route is available.




The Russian market brings a type of tourist with a capacity and willingness to spending much higher than the average of those who currently visit Fuerteventura.

Russian tourists spend on average €160.46 a day  in the Canary Islands, (other Tourists.)...  €119,19

Their average stay is  12.8 days, compared  to  9,52 days (other Tourists)

Russian tourists spend on average 1.845,9 EUR   ..........1.014,9 EUR  (average for other tourists)

Russians like to travel throughout the year but prefer the Summer season and their preference is for four star hotels on a half board basis. They are attracted mainly by the good weather. It is expected that the average age of Russian tourists will be between the age of 25 and 45.

[Voldermort]

They are also noted for a pathological hatred of queues, extreme zenophobia and rudeness.....Not too sure about the age profile...Most of the males I`ve seen are in the 50-60 bracket although the accompanying females tend towards the lower end of the previously mentioned age group...

   Best advert for self catering I`ve seen for a long time....should be a good boost for the Island 

[djk99]

Yes, I was wondering where the market research came from as well, the profiles bear little similarity to my experiences. 

[Globetrotter]

They will help the Islands economy then.
Some years ago we had a last minute holiday in Salou, it was a brand new hotel which had just opened, the Russian owner decided to fill the hotel and make it look busy by giving free holidays to some fellow Russians.
All of them never had a change of clothes the whole fortnight, they piled their plates up and went back time and time again to fill bags up with food, they were actually near to fighting to get to the servery.

[ILUVZANTE]

Oh dear, my experience of Russians on holiday hasn't been great.

[peggy]

Loud, rude, impatient, no manners and ignorant. Nice people to be on holiday with.........

[woe10]

"The Russian market brings a type of tourist with a capacity and willingness to spending much higher than the average of those who currently visit Fuerteventura.

Russian tourists spend on average €160.46 a day  in the Canary Islands, (other Tourists.)...  €119,19
Their average stay is  12.8 days, compared  to  9,52 days (other Tourists)
Russian tourists spend on average 1.845,9 EUR   ..........1.014,9 EUR  (average for other tourists)"

What an absolute load of RUBBISH. What they mean is including their Airfare and Hotel. They spend NOTHING in Bars and Restaurants, they´re ALL INCLUSIVE.
Apart from that, you wouldn´t want them in your bar anyway. They start on the Vodka for breakfast, and carry on all day, then roam the town drunk with nothing in their pockets after their Hotel bars are shut.

[FuerteMakesMeHappy]

I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago re raising accommodation ratings and seem to think a few sniggered about the contradiction of "Big spending" and "Russian"

Pot, Kettle? There does seem to be a certain amount of Xenophobia in the responses here. I think who you are talking about depends upon "what" Russians visit. If it's a factory worker from  Yasnogorsk, then yes it will be AI hand to mouth. If it's Abramovich and his ilk then Fuerte could be bought (given Spain's financial issues not a totally off the wall comment)

I've mixed with both types, and once you get over the arrogance born of an understandable ignorance, then they are bearable and VERY big spenders. (Beware the ones with daggers tattooed on their ankles btw)

and yes there better halves are always 30 years younger and "secretaries" (both of them)

[djk99]

http://www.natalie-tours.ru/guide/5/2210/
Looking at the hotels offered, a mix of financial backgrounds is certainly possible! The main flight would seem to be around 8 hours to TFS and then an add-on to FUE...quite a journey. I would imagine the majority will opt for Tenerife.

[SurfJames]

I once taught in a big well known private school. There was a sudden influx of Russian kids a few years ago. Parents evening was scarry - it was a bit like sitting infront of the Russian Mafia.

I often wondered where the money came from, so they could send their kids to that school.   

[fifi]

I have never met any Russians and so cant comment....out of curiosity I had a look on the net....it seems that most people do not like their temprament and this brought about the need for "Tours without Russians" http://english.pravda.ru/history/16-06-2008/105517-russian_tourists-0/

[Globetrotter]

And they never keep still cos there always 'Russian' about

[potash]

Tenerife must have a good influx  as they arrive  in  Boeing 747 jumbo jets not like us brits our little Boeing 737  and Airbus 321. 

[Deso]

Can they land one of these at Fuerte Airport?








           

[Elite of the forum]

had dealings with them all i can say is  god help us

ps and all the young women dress like pro's

[Deso]

ps and all the young women dress like pro's

Not all bad news then.   

[bobbieball]

Had Russions in my bar back in 2010, have to say all 8 woman & 8 men were all very pleasant & polite, they came in 10 nights in a row, spent ALOT of money & left a 20£ tip every night for the bar staff. If the Russions are coming i might open another bar!
Looking at some of the other comments posted i think you may be mixing them up with some of the Brits.

[djk99]

I think Fifi's link will put us all at ease !!  According to their own press article:
Russian tourists were often aggressive and noisy and preferred to stay in their hotels all day and all night long.
Many of them are simply unable to communicate with either other vacationers or hotel personnel. In addition, the Russian style of body language differs greatly from that of the West.
Russians hardly ever smile. They smile when they hear or see something funny or when they communicate with their friends. However, they consider it weird to smile to strangers in the street.
Russian women are good-looking and feminine individuals. They go out wearing expensive outfits and exquisite makeup even in hotels. They do not hesitate to wear a skimpy bikini and walk around a pool exposing their slim bodies.  So Deso..........don't go smiling around the pool !!
Having said that some other articles in Pravda certainly provide a unique window on our modern world....The London Olympics and Israel to begin with!!

[kevin2003]

I for one welcome our new Russian Overlords.

[Globetrotter]

Had Russions in my bar back in 2010, have to say all 8 woman & 8 men were all very pleasant & polite, they came in 10 nights in a row, spent ALOT of money & left a 20£ tip every night for the bar staff. If the Russions are coming i might open another bar!
Looking at some of the other comments posted i think you may be mixing them up with some of the Brits.

Unless Russian is taught in English schools as the main language.

[fifi]

Smiling happy faces on the first Russian tourists.

[PeterHeirman]

$160 a day are not big spenders.
Good spenders start at $750 a day.
Big spenders start at over $2000 a day 
At $160 a day it is not possible to hire staff: just food, drinks, car and a bit of entertainment. Nothing more.

So these are average earning Russians who want a change from Turkey or can't go to Egypt anymore.

The problem of Fuerte is:
- No classy or high end image
- No place to show off your wife (with clothes , jewelry): no expensive restaurants or a promenade with expensive bars
- No place to drive your expensive car and park in front of the hot night clubs
- No place to moor your expensive boat insight of the crowd
- Cold windy wind: spoiling the possible exposures of richness

Even if the rich want to practice a cool sport like kitesurfing there is no lounge bar on the beach for after (during) the exercise (which is what I prefer for myself: just sand). Réné Egli has almost achieved this lounge but you can't park your Range Rover in front of the lounge bar so nobody knows if you drive a Seat Panda or a BMW X7. On Flag Beach there is nothing for the big spenders. 

[FuerteMakesMeHappy]

Cheers Peter, you've just described why I LOVE Fuerte!

[PeterHeirman]

Hi FuerteMakeMeHappy - me too
But a large part of the population and especially the big spenders / nouveau riche need all the missing parts.