Saudi Arabia is celebrating Founding Day, a yearly celebration established by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day commemorates the Kingdom’s founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in February 1727.
Founding Day celebrates Saudi Arabia’s long history and heroes. It is a day to remember centuries of development, growth, progress, and prosperity. Today, the Kingdom has taken its place as a major player in the international arena, playing an influential role in political, economic, and social affairs – and tourism.
The former Mexican Tourism Minister, and WTTC CEO, HE Gloria Guevara made Saudi Arabia her new home in May 2021, when she was appointed to the post of chief special advisor to HE Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom.
Juergen Steinmetz, publisher eTurboNews visited HE Gloria Guevara in her office in the Ministry of Tourism last week and met not only a hard-working tourism celebrity but a dream team of devoted travel and tourism professionals working alongside Gloria and are steering tourism to a new dimension.
“My kids and my family and I love it here.”
HE Gloria Guevara
Gloria has not been publicly outspoken on her personal situation until now, but today lets it all out. Her Linkedin post on the occasion of Founding Day in Saudi Arabia comes from her heart.
On the special occasion of Saudi Founding Day, I would like to take a moment to share my thoughts about a land that has welcomed my family and me, and it is our home, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The history of the “Founding Day” goes back three centuries ago when the first Saudi state was established, in 1727, during the leadership of Imam Muhammad bin Saud.
Today, 22nd February, the country celebrates its solid roots, as well as the achievements made by his sons, the kings who succeeded him during the second (1824-1891) and third (1902-today) states, including HRH King Abdulaziz Al Saud, up to the prosperous era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques HRH King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Mohammed Bin Salman.
All these leaders have contributed to the construction, unity, and development of this amazing country.
Furthermore, the founding day is also a celebration of the current transformation, Vision2030 and what’s coming ahead, including the extraordinary MEGA projects, from NEOM to Diriyah, Alula, King Salman Park, and RedSeaGlobal.
As a CEO of a big global hospitality company shared with me during his last visit, “the excitement is contagious and is felt all around us, an excitement for a bright future that is being built in front of our eyes”
In my entire career, I have never witnessed something of this magnitude, and I feel honored to be part of this unprecedented transformation and contribute with my little grain of sand.
The diverse heritage, landscapes, and culture of all 13 Saudi regions, from north to south, from east to west, are a very rich and fascinating journey.
Through multiple trips for leisure or business, I had the chance to appreciate beautiful destinations, and I can say that Saudi is one of the most unique places in the world…
…but the best of this country is not the heritage, the culture, the delicious gastronomy, or the history of the natural assets, the best of Saudi is by far the Saudi people. The famous ‘Hafawa’ is part of their DNA and hospitality that has been transferred since the beginning of Arabia.
To all my friends and contacts, hope one day you can experience firsthand and enjoy this amazing hospitality, and the strong foundation that Saudi is building in tourism under HE Ahmed Al Khateeb’s leadership.
Gloria Guevara
