SriLankan Airways Hopes To Increase Tourism With Fam Journeys

The airline plans extra of such all through this yr.

SriLankan Airways has organized a number of fam journeys or “familiarization journeys” within the latest previous and can proceed to take action to revive tourism within the nation. The COVID pandemic and experiences of an financial disaster within the nation have severely affected its tourism sector, with operations of its nationwide airline additionally taking successful. However SriLankan is hopeful of a resurgence in journey demand, anticipating a a lot larger footfall in 2023.

Fam journeys

Sri Lanka’s nationwide provider has participated in a number of fam journeys just lately to assist resurrect the tourism trade within the nation. A familiarization “fam” journey is often organized for journey brokers to acquaint themselves with the locations and areas for promoting or selling these to vacationers.

Photograph: Vincenzo Tempo | Easy Flying

A report by TTG Asia mentioned that the provider organized a number of such journeys within the final quarter of 2022, leading to a number of group bookings. One of many journeys, known as the Pearl of the Orient, befell in November, inviting 170 journey brokers from around the globe.

Richard Nuttall, CEO of SriLankan Airways, feels these journeys are necessary for the members to discover the locations up shut. The provider additionally plans to arrange extra of such journeys all through this yr. TTG Asia quotes Nuttall as saying,

“We’re doing all we presumably can to get folks again. The problem in the intervening time is just not a lot that (folks didn’t learn about) the sights in Sri Lanka, however that the worldwide media has been sensationalising issues.”

“We’d like vacationers to know that they don’t seem to be taking meals away from Sri Lankans. Reasonably, vacationers expenditure can enable Sri Lankans to generate extra earnings to feed their households.”

Photograph: Media_works/Shutterstock

Rising operations

SriLankan Airways has been anticipating a big improve in passenger site visitors in 2023. Easy Flying spoke with the airline’s chairman Ashok Pathirage in November 2022, and he was hopeful of a very good restoration as soon as China relaxes its journey insurance policies. He mentioned,

“Community-wise, we’re within the technique of restoring our capability to pre-pandemic ranges and plan so as to add extra capability as soon as our fleet is strengthened. We additionally anticipate China to reopen for business aviation subsequent yr and look ahead to reestablishing our providers to the fullest for the Chinese language market. Our operations to India may even be elevated in 2023.”

He additionally added that SriLankan is dedicated to its hub mannequin, with Colombo persevering with to be a significant hyperlink for passengers between South India and the Center East or the Far East.

Photograph: Vincenzo Tempo | Easy Flying