ISTANBUL
Saudi Arabian Air Connectivity Program’s senior manager on Monday praised the event Routes World 2023, which is being held in Istanbul Exhibition Center in Türkiye.
Speaking exclusively to Anadolu at the event, Ali Rajab said that “huge number of government and private sector representatives” attended to Routes World 2023.
“The main purpose for us is to show airlines and airports that we initiate collaborations to further strengthen this relationship or to take it to the next level and open a route,” he stated.
“We are here in person, which remains very important, and ready to show you what we can offer you in Saudi Arabia,” he stressed.
Describing the event as a “great” one, the Saudi official praised that it “highlights Turkish culture and Turkish cooperation.”
“I am certain all the visitors here will be grateful for the famed hospitality and already look forward to their next visit,” he added.
Saudi Arabia Air Connectivity Program
Rajab underlined that Riyadh has ambitious goals such as welcoming over 150 million tourists by 2030 and providing services in more than 250 destinations in aviation field by the end of 10 years.
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program is a national entity established under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry in 2021 as part of the National Tourism Strategy, he pointed out.
“We operate at the intersection of tourism and aviation, aiming to increase air connectivity between key global hubs and centers of demand, and the Kingdom,” he said.
“Another main area that the Program plays a role in is to have all the stakeholders within the ecosystem come together, from regulators to airports and tourism authorities, and have them aligned to facilitate a smooth business journey for airlines and a seamless travel journey for tourists,” he asserted.
Touching on the importance of the Program regarding its influence on bilateral relations, Rajab stated: “It’s very beneficial that the Program can help increase air traffic by offering airlines a complete suite of services, including strategic qualitative and quantitative insights, business case research and analysis, as well as strategic business support to empower their initiatives.”
“We can reach out to Saudi government entities such as the Saudi Tourism Authority or the General Authority for Civil Aviation, for example, to facilitate air carriers’ market entry and provide them with route sustainability and co-marketing support,” he noted.
