Ethiopian Airlines has created packages that envision to make more than 10 million passengers visit Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Chief Commercial Officer, Lemma Yadecha, told ENA that 65 percent of the international passengers who pass through Bole International Airport go without entering the city.
To change this, the airline is implementing a package called “Stop over Addis” in collaboration with the relevant parties.
In this way, transit passengers have been visiting various tourism destinations, including tourism destinations built by the initiatives of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Based on the 2035 Strategic Plan, the airline has been working to implement the package that targets to make more than 10 million passengers visit the capital city, Lemma explained.
The chief officer emphasized that the airline, besides expanding international destinations, is working to promote tourism as a key focus.
“Ethiopia is a the birthplace of mankind, and a country with great history and natural resources. We are a country that has everything. So I believe that we can make 10 million people visit the country. as Ethiopian Airlines in 2035, but more than 20 million expected in ten years,” Lemma said.
In addition, the chief officer pointed out that a new program called “Coffee Tourism” has been implementing to increase the flow of tourists.
Agents of the airline in each country are working with the special mission of making passengers visit the attractions.
According to him, the agents in Korea, France, Belgium, India, Nigeria, and South Africa are proving effective in this regard.
Korea Area Manager, Mehreteab Teklay said on his part that previously Koreans used the airline as a transit point to travel to Israel and other destinations.
Thanks to this project, travelers are now visiting Ethiopia, the manager stated, adding that some 32 travelers have for instance visited Addis Ababa during the week.
Also, the airline has made arrangements to make visitors enjoy the “Coffee Tourism” project by demonstrating the Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony at the Sky Light Hotel.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency