Economics

17:12, 11.04.2008 | APR

Ripples from Russia's booming economy have crossed the Sea of Japan, lapping at the shores of Niigata Prefecture and leading to strengthened ties.

Interaction between Niigata and the cities of Khabarovsk and Vladivostok is becoming more visible in many ways, including commerce and tourism.
For example, Niigata's popular Yuzawa ski resort is now drawing significant levels of tourists from the Russian Far East.
The government's Yokoso! Japan (Visit Japan) campaign and various other promotional activities, including inviting Russian travel agents to the resort, may have contributed to the increase, he said.
Many of the Russian ski tourists are from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Niigata Airport has twice-weekly direct flights to and from both cities. It takes only about 90 minutes to fly in from Vladivostok, and a manageable two hours from Khabarovsk. According to Vladivostok Air, 76.2 percent of the seats on its Niigata-Vladivostok flights were occupied in business 2007, up 8.6 percentage points from the year before.
"The increase in Russian travelers during the ski season surpassed our expectations," said Kenji Hanaoka, sales manager of Vladivostok Air.
Kulakov Vasilii, the Russian consul general in Niigata, said travel to Japan has become more affordable for many people as Russia's economy continues to grow, and both Japanese and Russian travel agencies have been promoting trips to Niigata, he said.
Russia's gross domestic product has expanded about 6.9 percent a year on average over the last nine years, according to International Monetary Fund statistics.
"The economic conditions of both (Russia and Japan) are becoming better," Vasilii said in identifying the primary reason why interaction between the two nations has become more active.
"Especially, the economic situation in Russia has changed."
While more Russian travelers are visiting the Sea of Japan coastal areas of Japan, some of Niigata's local specialties have been shipped to the Russian Far East.
Vasilii said agricultural products, including Niigata grapes and Le Lectier pears, have been exported to Russia in recent years. The volume is not big, but it is increasing, he added.
He said these organically grown products are healthy and of high quality, and are well-received in the Russian Far East.
"They are rather expensive compared with other (products), but the market is ready," he said.
"For me, what's important is to show the local businessmen (in Niigata) that a great market is close by. For Russians, it is good because we can supply our people with very high-quality products."
For his part, Vasilii hopes the interaction will only become more active.
"Japanese are beginning to understand that (there is) a very big prosperous market just about 800 km from here," he said. "I think it is only the beginning because the possibilities are very big."

-The Japana Times Online