Gloria Guevara Manzo, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mohamed Al Khateeb, participated as a special guest speaker at a meeting with businessmen, and assured that Saudi Arabia is living a new era in tourism and is an example on a global level. .
She said that “the Middle East is experiencing a major change in the travel and tourism sector, and Saudi Arabia is experiencing an unprecedented transformation. And what is a country like Saudi Arabia doing to seriously transform itself? I summarize it in three actions: vision, leadership and resources. Saudi has all three, especially a clear and ambitious vision from leader His Royal Highness Mohammed Bin Salman, through Vision 2030, which seeks to propel that nation to the next level.”
During his presentation, Guevara Manzo noted: “Today I live in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia. A country with an area of 2 million square kilometers, almost like Mexico, with 35 million inhabitants. It is the country with the highest growth in the G20. In 2022 its GDP grew 8.7 percent, more than double the average (which was 3.2 percent) and has improved in all rankings that measure governments. The tourism sector grew 121% last year in international visitors and the first quarter we broke a record. The highest not in that year, but in many, many years.”
He also spoke about the importance of the travel and tourism sector in the global economy and recalled that it generates 1 in 10 jobs on the planet (almost 300 million); Furthermore, he highlighted that tourism represents 10 percent of the global economy (GDP).
Guevara Manzo considered that, in the case of Mexico, it has great resources, hard-working people and has remained a benchmark in tourism, but it is necessary to define a long-term plan, with the participation of the private sector, academia and citizens, and with experts who contribute their knowledge to take the country to the next level.
“Unity and leadership, a country that is divided inevitably postpones its development. Mexico can no longer be divided. It is essential that the country's agenda be put above individual agendas. We have a great country with cultural and natural resources, but above all with first-class people, recognized worldwide and hard-working people,” said the former President of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Gloria Guevara added: “There are many challenges, a lot of competition, but we must not lose sight of the fact that Mexico is already a benchmark in tourism; however, it is necessary to have a renewed vision of our country and its great potential. Travel and tourism can be the first source of foreign currency for Mexico. As it is in many countries. Tourism is a lever for economic and social development, with care for the environment and social responsibility. Our country has everything to achieve it.”
Finally, he said that Mexico is experiencing a moment that will define the future, a change of administration is coming and it will be essential that our future leader, or leader, be aware of the great potential that Mexico has in all areas, including tourism. It is important to take control of our destiny, define the future of the country. Mexico is a great nation that, with vision, leadership, working hand in hand with all of you and with millions of committed Mexicans, plus the efficient use of resources, we can go very far.