Amman, Oct. 29 (Petra) – Management of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX 2026) on Thursday honored the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the exhibition in Aqaba.
The recognition acknowledges the board’s role in supporting national efforts and enhancing the Kingdom’s position on the map of international events and conferences.
According to a JTB statement on Thursday, this honor underscores the importance of complementary role of national institutions in cementing Jordan’s position as "a regional hub for hosting major international events." The JTB noted that such efforts increase the economic and tourism-related impact, bolster the Kingdom’s "competitiveness," and open new avenues for international cooperation and partnerships.
Hani Dabbas, a member of the JTB’s Board of Directors and its official spokesperson, said SOFEX transcends its defense and security dimensions and serves as a "strategic" platform that reflects Jordan’s capability to host global events with "efficiency and competence." He noted that the true value of such events lies in turning global participation into "sustainable" tourism and investment opportunities, while reinforcing the Kingdom’s image as a "destination that combines security, stability, diverse tourism offerings, and excellence in event organization." Dabbas further stated tourism has become a cross-sectoral pillar, which requires orchestrating national efforts and leveraging of international events to expand the base of tourism markets and elevate Jordan’s status on the global tourism map.
For his part, Mazen Qawar, a JTB member emphasized that the Kingdom’s hosting of the SOFEX exhibition reflects "growing" international confidence in Jordan’s organizational capabilities and tourism infrastructure.
As for future steps, he called for investing these successes to further develop the conference, exhibition, and business tourism sectors, while strengthening public-private partnerships.
The board expressed its pride in this recognition, affirming its continued commitment to promoting Jordan and leveraging international events to enhance the Kingdom’s global presence, attract more visitors, and secure further tourism-related investments.
//Petra// AG
