The 2024 China Route Development Cooperation Annual Meeting for SCAT Airlines of Kazakhstan was held in Sanya

SCAT Airlines, as a major airline in Central Asia, has been deeply cultivating the Chinese market for over 20 years. The operation of Sanya inbound routes is about to enter its 15th year. Since September this year, regular inbound routes from Almaty to Sanya and Astana to Sanya have been successively resumed, increasing from two flights per week to six flights per week based on the original schedule. The route operations are in good condition, with an overall average inbound load factor of over 90%.

Based on a high recognition of Sanya's tourism resources and the construction background of Hainan Free Trade Port, on November 30, 2023, SCAT Airlines gathered with major partners from Kazakhstan in Sanya and jointly held the 2024 China Route Development Cooperation Annual Conference themed "Expanding Cooperation, Facing the Future" with Chinese partner Selfie Travel China.

In his speech, Mr. SYTNIK VLADIMIR, President of SCAT Airlines, mentioned that due to the pandemic, the annual route development conference was suspended for three years. Holding the first gathering event in Sanya after the pandemic recovery was the right choice. He also shared the company's business situation in China and the development of its capacity construction. SCAT plans to open more China-Kazakhstan business and tourism routes based on existing routes. Moreover, it will fully utilize the Hainan Free Trade Port's open aviation rights policy to apply for opening inbound Sanya routes to some European countries with market demand, helping Sanya further build an international tourism sanctuary and a free trade port innovation highland.

The Sanya Tourism Development Bureau made a comprehensive and multi-faceted presentation of Sanya's tourism resources to Kazakhstani airlines and travel channel operators, which aroused enthusiastic responses from the guests.

Sanya Phoenix Airport introduced the airport's future plans for building an aviation hub to the guests and expressed encouragement and support for SCAT Airlines and its partners to open more inbound routes to Sanya.

Marriott Hotels Corporation introduced the group's regional hotel operations in Hainan to the guests and looked forward to SCAT Airlines and its partners bringing more Kazakhstani tourists to Hainan.

At the annual dinner, He Jin, Chairman of Selfie Travel China, warmly welcomed the guests and expressed gratitude for the strong support provided by Phoenix Airport, Sanya Tourism Development Bureau, Transportation Bureau, international settlement service banking financial institutions, and Marriott Hotel Group. Since the resumption of flights, various business partners have worked together, and the Kazakhstani inbound tourism project in Sanya has been operating well, receiving care and support from all parties. He hoped for continued friendly cooperation in the future. For friendly units that have not yet started business, Hainan Saiofei International Travel Agency looks forward to and welcomes everyone to carry out cooperative projects leading to Sanya, seeking common future prospects.

During the event, He Jin presented the foreign guests with "Chinese cultural characteristic gifts" - ink seal square stamps.

This event was a high-profile promotion activity in the Kazakhstani aviation and tourism industry, with participating enterprises almost reflecting the "national strength" of Kazakhstan's tourism industry. Such route development and tourism promotion activities will undoubtedly have a positive impact on promoting economic and cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.

SCAT Airlines, together with its main partners, will contribute to the construction of an aviation hub for the Hainan Free Trade Port, promote the accelerated recovery and improvement of the Sanya inbound tourism market, and make positive contributions to bilateral economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan. The mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries will continue to deepen, and the future prospects of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan will be even more beautiful.