China Scene: South

Russian-speaking employees sought

Companies in Hainan province are competing companies for Russian speakers because of the growing number of tourists from China's northern neighbor. Local labor departments report the biggest bidders for these employees are luxury hotels, shopping centers and scenic spot operators in major tourist cities across the island province.

Hainan attracted a record 87,700 Russian tourists in the first six month of this year. Russians have replaced tourists from South Korea as the largest number of foreign visitors to Hainan since the beginning of the year.