Ethiopian Airlines and Finchglow Holidays have partnered to promote destinations in Ethiopia and Nigeria, boosting travel between the two countries.
The partnership, which was announced recently, aims to foster tourism between African countries and provide a platform for travelers to explore the rich cultural and natural heritage of both nations.
According to Firiehiwot Mekonnen, Area Manager, Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines, the partnership is a strategic move to promote Ethiopia as a tourist and MICE destination.
“We’re just trying to foster tourism between African countries,” she said.
“Ethiopia has a lot to offer to the world as a tourism and MICE destination, especially MICE since we have been doing a lot of infrastructures when it comes to MICE and everything.”
The partnership will enable Finchglow Holidays to sell tickets, issue visas, and offer other travel packages to Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Mekonnen added that the partnership will also provide Nigerian tourists and passengers with different packages, including tickets, accommodations, tour programs, and land excursions in Ethiopia.
Oluwaseun Afolabi, Head of Business, Finchglow Holidays, said the partnership is a significant development for the tourism industry in both countries.
“It means a lot in fairness,” he said. “It means we are people-focused, we are destination-focused, and Ethiopia is one of the destinations where a lot of people ask us about.”
Afolabi noted that the partnership will help bridge the gap created by visa restrictions and make it easier for Nigerians to travel to Ethiopia.
“We’ve been able to bridge that gap and say, okay, let’s come together, let’s make it a thing of this partnership and let’s provide Ethiopia as a destination for Nigerians,” he said.
The partnership will also enhance the emerging trend of tourism in Africa, with Ethiopia being a prime destination for religious tourism.
“Ethiopia is the next best thing for religious tourism,” Afolabi said. “Given all the numbers we’ve seen and demands and all of that, the partnership came in such a way that it was a no-brainer.”
Alabi Adetola, Sales Manager, Lagos, Ethiopian Airlines, believes the partnership will boost ticket sales and promote Ethiopia as a destination.
“We believe they’re gonna project us and they will work together in partnership, and then of course, we have the desired results that we want,” he said.
The partnership will also make it easier for visa issuance, with Ethiopian Airlines and Finchglow Holidays working together to streamline the process.
Mekonnen said, “We’re going to have an MOU, two kinds of MOU. One is for Ethiopian Holidays to be the DMC for Finchglow Holidays to provide all the package and land excursions and flights, and the other MOU is going to be signed between Ethiopia and Finchglow Holidays to make the visa process easy.”
Overall, the partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and Finchglow Holidays is set to boost tourism between Ethiopia and Nigeria, providing a platform for travelers to explore the rich cultural and natural heritage of both nations.
