JEDDAH — As many as 281 male and female tourist guides from across Saudi Arabia participated in the events, marking the launch of International Tourist Guide Day, in Jeddah on Sunday. The program, organized by the Tour Guides Cooperative Society, focused on introducing guides to the Historic Hajj Route and Jeddah’s heritage landmarks. International Tourist Guide Day, launched in 1990 by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, aimed to highlight the role of the tourist guide as an ambassador of their country and culture. It also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of tour guiding in enriching the visitor experience, promote concepts of sustainable tourism development, and recognize the efforts of guides in showcasing national identity and human heritage. The celebration coincided with the Kingdom’s rapidly advancing tourism sector, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The tourist guide has become a key element in presenting historical, cultural, and natural sites, conveying the stories of places with knowledge and professionalism that reflect the depth and diversity of Saudi civilization.