The Embassy of the Philippines in Amman, represented by Ms. Princess Sharon Rose Sorilla, Cultural Officer, attended the opening of the International Tourism Conference last 05 June 2012, at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center at the Dead Sea. With the theme Seizing Tourism Market Opportunities in Times of Rapid Change, the conference was organized under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein II and was participated in by various international tourism organizations, international and local travel agencies, airline executives, diplomatic missions in Jordan, government and private entities connected with the tourism sector, and other tourism enthusiasts.

The conference was formally opened by tourism experts: Mr. David Scowsill, President and CEO of World Travel and Tourism Council; Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board; and H. E. Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization.

The two-day conference discussed the importance of the tourism sector in the economic development of each country. It highlighted the evolving ways by which tourism boosts and increases the income of a country, and how resilient and flexible this industry is. Tourism in Jordan has become a driver of economic recovery. It generated 282, 000 jobs in 2011, and 20% of the total GDP of Jordan in 2011 came from the tourism sector.

The conference also included a Tourism and Market Expo of different travel agencies, hotels and airline companies in Jordan.