Football superstar Lionel Messi is the new brand ambassador for Saudi Tourism
The famous footballer has been checking out the sights in Jeddah…
So many must-visit destinations have a tourism ambassador – Australia has Chris Hemsworth, Dubai has Shah Rukh Khan and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island just announced Kevin Hart. And joining their ranks, Saudi Arabia just announced its brand ambassador, and it’s none other than footballing legend, Lionel Messi.
The Saudi Tourism Authority announced that the Argentinian footballer, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and is the captain of the Argentinian football team, will be the official brand ambassador for Saudi Tourism.
The Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, said: “I am pleased to welcome Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia. We are excited for you to explore the treasures of the Red Sea, the Jeddah Season and our ancient history. This is not his first visit to the Kingdom and it will not be the last!”
Following the announcement, Messi arrived in King Abdulaziz International Airport on Monday May 9. Messi landed in Jeddah and has already been spotted exploring the city, from the historical district of Al Balad to the coral reefs of the Red Sea.
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During this trip, Messi has been enjoying the sights of Jeddah and shared images of himself at the Red Sea with his friends on his own Instagram account. Over the next two years as the brand ambassador for Saudi Tourism, he is expected to visit sights across Saudi Arabia.
The footballer is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, as he has visited the country multiple times. During Riyadh Season, he was on the promotional posters that were used across the region to promote the festival. While Cirque du Soleil also created a show celebrating the footballer for the festival, which was simply entitled Messi.
Previous visits have seen Messi play a friendly football match against the Saudi national team at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, and play against Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah.
We look forward to seeing what Saudi sights Messi visits next.
Images: Instagram/Twitter