JEDDEAH: Saudi tour guide Rehab Andijani has a passion for tourism and culture, along with helping visitors discover what is special about the Kingdom. Andijani, who is a Saudi citizen, is a long-serving guide who fosters a close connection with international tourists. She said: “It was a choice in following my destiny to select tourism over my studies in information science, because I wanted to help more people learn about Saudi Arabia’s rich culture — shaped by the diversity of its people — which has formed the basis of the cultural identity of the Kingdom.” Rehab Andijani, who has been a guide in Jeddah recently, speaks fluent German and english, and offers guide services in the western region. (Supplied) Andijani, who has been a guide in Jeddah recently, speaks fluent German and English, and offers guide services for tourists in the Western Region. She has helped visitors over the years by offering both German and English-speaking tours. She graduated from Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah in 2011 before choosing to study further in Germany. The 33-year-old told Arab News: “I went to the city of Cologne, where I was planning to pursue my master’s in marketing research, but due to the death of my mother I had to go back home. “During my stay in Germany I got a taste of what it’s like to serve leisure travelers. So, I focused on learning German and English, especially in the light of a series of reforms and investments initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman which aimed at opening the country to international travelers while showcasing its diverse cultural heritage.” Andijani is currently helping visitors at the House of Islamic Arts museum in Jeddah Park, while also volunteering to host special tours around the city’s historic areas and famous tourist spots. She enjoys sharing her immense knowledge of local history and great Islamic art with visitors, and added that being a tour guide requires a mix of intellectual knowledge and personality. The job has also called on Andijani to be an avid reader and learner, in order to gain more knowledge. She has even started to host tourists in her house so that they can observe how Saudis live. She said: “It is a form of hospitality, quite popular these days, which is offered by locals to tourists. “I understand that we have very conservative traditions and not all Saudi families will agree to do this, but for me it is OK because it is a great experience to show them our house, how we live, and what food we eat.” In addition, she has also launched her own website in both German and English, to help tourists. Andijani has hosted families from the US, Germany, Australia, and Russia, and she was looked upon by her guests as an ambassador for her country. She said: “My job is to answer questions. I spend my time with my groups, and it’s my responsibility to show the best version of myself as a Saudi, and my country.” Andijani has never regretted her move into tourism. She looks forward to welcoming more visitors to Saudi Arabia and hopes to become a professional tour guide to show tourists the beauty of the country. She added: “I hope my little tours can play a part in improving relations and people’s knowledge of the importance of Saudi Arabia.”