This seems more like a promotion for his trip than anything.
Look, making friends is easy AF.
For friendships to form you have to have proximity, a shared experience, and continued interaction.
In school you had these pretty easily, you were stuck there most of the year and experienced the same things, and you interacted all the time. Eventually you found common ground and boom, friends.
Hard to do as an adult, but here's how to do it.
Get a hobby or an interest, then go to a meet up of that stuff. You like anime? Go to a con. Cars? Car show. Whatever.
Then everyone there already has a built in ice breaker! Talk to them about that thing you're all the for! Ask people about themselves, get interested in others! Everyone loves to talk about themselves. You'll make more friends in five minutes getting interested in other people than you will in five years trying to get someone interested in you.
If they seem cool by the end of the event, say "hey you seem cool wanna hang out some time?" And exchange contact info and then talk to them once in a while. Then hang out when you can. Introduce them to other friends you have, they will do the same.
If they suck and are assholes, don't hang out with them anymore