SINCE launching its return flights from Johannesburg to the Republic of Yemen's capital city, Sana, and setting up offices in Johannesburg last December, Yemen Airways has brought just over 1 200 Middle East travellers to SA and in an effort to market the country as a leisure destination, will be hosting a group of tour operators from the Middle East in Johannesburg next month.
"To date, the majority of travellers booking our flights to and from Sana and then on to other destinations such as the Comores and Bombay, India have been South Africans, but we are noticing an increased interest in South Africa from the Middle East and would like to tap that market," Abdusalam Alhaddad, area manager for Yemen Airways told Travel Now.
"Of course the inbound interest comes mainly from business travellers but by bringing the tour operators into South Africa we aim to grow the leisure market considerably."
According to Alhaddad, it will be a two-fold promotion and the operators will in turn promote the Middle East to South Africans as a tourist destination.
The airline currently operates weekly flight between Johannesburg and Sana, using A310, B727s and B737s, and flies to eight African destinations and over 34 global destinations, including Frankfurt, Paris and London.
(Adéle Mackenzie)
