ET rolls out new packages for transiting passengers

After Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) mentioned that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will launch stopover tourism packages for its customers, the airline group started its package this week.
The PM stated that the country will provide a short tourism scheme for travelers on their stopover during transit at Bole International Airport.
It has been estimated eight million travelers per year visit Bole Airport, a number that has been increasing as ET launched new destinations.
According to ET, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX the certified Four Star Global Airline; is rolling out stopover packages without any additional airfare catering to all leisure needs with a view to promoting Ethiopian tourism.
The African airlines giant stated that as of August 1 passengers traveling through Addis Ababa and continuing their journey to one of the destinations in the  Ethiopian network can now take advantage of stopover offerings from Ethiopian Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines, enabling them to discover and experience the many historical, cultural, religious and natural treasures of Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Holidays was formed about six years ago to link travelers with tourism packages as a further revenue source for ET and to expand the tourism sector and its revenue for the country.
The packages range from sightseeing in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa, obelisks of Axum, rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the amazing 9th century mosques of Harar, castles of Gondar, the stunning source of the Blue Nile, Simien Mountains, the lake side resorts of Hawassa and Arba Minch, unique coffee farms of Kaffa, birth place of coffee, and much more.
Tewolde Gebremariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said “Ethiopian is working with all stakeholders in the tourism chain to make Ethiopia a tourism destination of choice. With its many riches, the world has yet to truly discover Ethiopia and tourism has the potential to become the main foreign currency generator for the country and a mass job creator for the youth.”
“With the stopover packages, we aim to attract a significant portion of our transit customers in Addis as tourists and to considerably enhance the flow of tourism into the country,” he added.
From the state owned enterprises ET is the leading hard currency generator with its operation in aviation. It is also in the process of realizing  its hotel ownership by  building a  brand new hotel at the front of the headquarters which is in the final stages of opening.
Even though Ethiopia has historical, natural and cultural resources, the tourism sector has not been tapped as much as other African countries.
PM Abiy is planning for the country to generate a significant amount of revenue from travelers transiting in Ethiopia.