Friedel Heuwinkel (Chief of the Lippe District), Khalid Al Tobi (ESC), H.E. Maitha Al Mahruqiyah (MoT) and Henning Schwarze (INTEWO) at the ceremony in Berlin

During the ITB Tourism Trade Show in Berlin H.E. Maitha Bint Saif Al Mahruqiyah, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism, inaugurate the “Virtual Museum of Geology in Oman” (VMO). The launch of the VMO homepage marks the starting point for a new project to exhibit the unique geological heritage in the Sultanate of Oman.

With the support of 360° panorama pictures, galleries and videos, visitors can explore geological attractions throughout the country. In this initial stage the museum features the Duqum Stone Park, the ophiolite rocks in the heart of Muscat, ripple marks and other fascinating locations.

The geological heritage of Oman provides for a wealth of knowledge that will be valuable in understanding geological phenomena. Oman is considered as a hot spot among international geologists and is considered an “open book” of geological and geomorphologic education. The VMO is a joint project in the frame of the German-Oman cooperation “Tourism and Education for Sustainable Development”, which, among other things, is focusing on the promotion of the geological heritage and Geotourism activities in Oman.

The museum has been developed by INTEWO, Germany, and Earth Secrets Oman, in cooperation with the Media Agency RLS Jakobsmeyer.

The project has been awarded with the FORD Middle East Environmental Grant in 2011, a conservation program with support from UNESCO.

Following this initial launch the VMO will be regularly extended with new locations and attractions. In the future other themes like tourism, culture and history will be implemented, leading towards a comprehensive virtual museum for Oman. The Ministry of Tourism is looking forward to enrich Oman’s tourism marketing through the virtual museum concept.

Visit the museum: www.oman-museum.com

Nathalie Keurmeur and Dr. Ulrich Hermanns (»Ausstellung Medien Transfer«), Stephan Radeck (Lippe Association), Elmar Brok (MdEP), Minister Ute Schäfer, Ute Koczy (MdB), Henning Schwarze (INTEWO) and the Chief of the Lippe Association Anke Peithmann during the opening ceremony (from left).

Interactive nature trails – INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH developed an innovative concept to provide environmental education at the Externsteine rock formation.

Visitors to the Externsteine monument can now experience the diverse nature and culture at the famous rock formation in the Teutoburger Forest with support of “invisible” nature trails. Smartphones and tablet computer provide guidance with the global satellite navigation system (GPS). Within the nature reserve the applications hosts multimedia information (e.g. movies, podcast, galleries, animations) for more than 20 points of interest.

Applications are available for iPhone and iPad, as well as for Android smartphones. In preparation to their visit to the monument visitors can download the applications for free to their personal devices and they will benefit from a personal multimedia guide. In addition tourists can rent iPads and outdoor smart phone devices at the Externsteine Information Center.

The application is available in English, German, French and Dutch. Special editions for children and “experts” complete the innovative offer.

The project, which has been implemented for the National Association Lippe has been funded by the European Union and received support from relevant local partners.

Dirk Waterman (Nature Park), Oliver Schmidt (Volksbank Schlangen), Friedel Heuwinkel (Chief of the Lippe district), Wolfgang Hackauf (Volksbank Schlangen) and Henning Schwarze (INTEWO) during the presentation of the new flyer

With the beginning of this year’s hiking season a new edition of the Nature Park brochure “Hiking trail in Schlangen” has been published. The circular hiking route in the village of Schlangen is providing good insights and great views in the diverse landscapes of the Nature Park Teutoburger Wald / Eggegebirge.

With a length of 21 km the hiking tour is surrounding the village of Schlangen with its two districts, Kohlstädt and Oesterholz-Haustenbeck. On its way the tour is touching the Sennelandschaft, a unique nature reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia, continues into the forests of the Teutoburger Wald, finally climbing up to the Eggegebirge mountain range. One can discover the natural and cultural heritage of the area, while trekking on this challenging route.

Design and cartography has been implemented by INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH. The production of 10.000 copies has received funds from the Nature Park administration and from the Volksbank in Schlangen. The brochure is available for free in the tourist information center in Schlangen and at various tourist attractions in the region.

"touristinfo2go" - an innovative concept to provide tourist information

INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH has developed a new, innovative tourist information system for the project “Exquisite Nature” in the Hoexter district, Germany.

At so-called “Gates into the region” a wealth of information about the European natural heritage in the Hoexter district will be provided. Made of solid wood and equipped with high quality printed information elements (nature photography, maps) the new information desk installations are real eye-catchers at their respective locations, e.g. being an integral part of existing tourist information centers.

The central element of the information desk is an embedded iPad, hosting an exclusive application for the „Exquisite Nature“, providing a range of multimedia information. In addition to texts, news, events and galleries, in particular videos, audio stories and interactive maps are providing an innovative multimedia experience and offer impressive insights into the project. The self-explanatory handling of the iPad provides easy access to information for the visitors. Integrated sound showers ensure the audio experience.

Further more, tourists and visitors to the “Exquisite Nature” can download an application for personal iPads or iPhones for free. This can be done at home in preparation to a visit or with the use of QR-Codes being at a one of the information desks, which provide a free WiFi network. This enables tourists to have their “personal guide” and access to information, wherever and whenever needed. The application, with support of the GPS system, is providing orientation on detailed maps and offers multimedia location-based-services, for the various nature reserves and attractions. The comprehensive range of digital information is stored offline in the application, to avoid additional costs from tariff rates and poor 3G networks in remote areas.

The modern and technologically advanced tourist portal, a combination of traditional and innovative information sources, enhances the professional capability, visibility and service. Barrier free, multi touch experience, live information and multimedia data are all integrated aspects of this visionary concept. Finally this will enhance the visitor experience, and at the same time boost young and old people’s enthusiasm for understanding their surroundings in a way that is both fun and instructive. “Gates into the region” have been installed at seven locations within the “Exquisite Nature” region.

The DVD „Sultanate of Oman – A Land of Variety“ will be presented during the ITB Travel Trade Show in Berlin

INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH produced a DVD with documentaries about the Sultanate of Oman. The first movie features the rich cultural and natural heritage in Oman.

Experience the Arabian jewel from “a Thousand and One Nights”, with dreamlike landscapes and time honoured traditions charmingly interwoven with a contemporary lifestyle. Shaped by desert and ocean, the Sultanate has many natural and cultural treasures to discover. Just a step away from the well cared for modern city streets, the tantalising smell of incense will lead you into an exotic world of colour and bustling sound little changed in hundreds of years; where market stall vendors renowned for their friendliness and hospitality sell handcrafts and artworks.

The second movie looks into Oman’s great geological diversity. A geologist once said that Oman is one big wonderful outdoor geological Museum with unique geological values. It is the only country in the world composed mostly of oceanic crust and rocks that originated from the mantle – deep below the earth’s surface. In addition, evidence can be seen of continental drift and geological processes that have dominated the earth’s surface for many millions of years.

The DVD has been produced in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Ostwestfalen-Lippe (HS-OWL) and Medienwerk e.V. The two authors, Tamas Hodik and Manuel Pater visited Oman twice, accompanied by geologists and tourism professionals, and collected memorable pictures.

The DVD will be presented on the 8th of March 2012 during the ITB Travel Trade Show in Berlin. Visitors are welcomed to attend the premiere at the booth of Gulf Jewels Tours (Hall22B/200).

Dr. Benno Böer (UNESCO Doha), Mr. Khalid Nassr Al-Toubi (INTEWO) and Mr. Hussein Murad (Ford Middle East) during the award ceremony in Dubai

INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH and National Earth Secrets LLC have been awarded with the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grant 2011. „The Geological Heritage of Oman“ is the title of the project, which is among this year’s laureates of the prestige Environmental Grant.

Since 2009 the German and Oman companies cooperate in different activities, developing sustainable geotourism and environmental education in the Sultanate. The comprehensive concept is aiming towards promoting and conserving the unique geological heritage in Oman, with performing different project features. Key elements of the project include the development of a GPS-based geotourism guide for the Muscat region, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism; the support of a cooperation between partners from the Nature Park Teutoburger Wald / Eggegebirge, promoting tourism and education for sustainable development; an annual student exchange with tourism students from Sultan Qaboos University; a geological movie project in Oman, in cooperation with the University of Applied Science Ostwestfalen-Lippe; and other activities supporting the rapprochement of cultures and promoting the German-Oman cooperation.

With support of the Ford Environmental Grant another ambitious project will be initiated. Key geological attractions in Oman will be exposed in a „Virtual Museum of Geology“. With support of latest technology high quality panorama images of selected geological hot spots will be produced and exhibited in an online museum, where one will be able to discover the hidden secrets of geology. Complemented with comprehensive information, the virtual museum will allow access to inaccessible locations and will provide knowledge about fascinating geological and geomorphological processes.

Ford‘s Conservation & Environmental Grants programme has become an annual event in the Middle East. Since its inception in 2000, the GCC/Levant chapter of the grants programme has supported at least 130 projects with more than US-$1 million granted to date. The programme has seen support from various governmental and non-governmental environmental authorities including the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Emirates Wildlife Society and the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED). In 2011, the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants programme joined hands with the UNESCO, providing support to creative projects focused on Conservation Engineering, Protection of the Natural Environment and Environmental Education.

The award ceremony took place in Dubai and was performed by representatives from the UNESCO Doha Office and Ford Middle East. The keynote speech was held by the guest of honor, H.H. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, member of the ruling family of the Emirate of Ajman, also know as the „Green Sheikh“.

INTEWO | World Habitat Society’s Managing Partner, Mr. Henning Schwarze and National Earth Secret’s CEO, Mr. Khalid Nasser Al Toubi received the award on behalf of the joint international program.

The establishment of a Geopark aims to bring sustainability and real economic benefit to the local populations, usually through the development of sustainable tourism and other economic and cultural activities

The Bureau of the Global Geopark Network, meeting from 16 to 18 September in Norway’s Gea Norwegica Geopark on the occasion of the 10th European Geoparks Conference, will examine applications from 16 sites wishing to join the Global Network.

The candidates include: Carnic Alps (Austria), Bodoquena-Pantanal (Brazil), Quadrilatero Ferrifero (Brazil), Hong Kong park (China), Tianzhushan (China), the parks of Bauges (France), Chablais park (France), Katla (Iceland), Batur (Indonesia), Pacitan (Indonesia), Aras (Iran), Burren and Cliffs of Moher (Ireland), Alpi Apuane (Italy), Muroto (Japan), Sierra Norte di Sevilla Geopark (Spain), Villuercas Ibores Jara (Spain).

Further information is available on UNESCO’s Geopark webpage.

At the end of the internship the students received their certificates. FLTR: Jalal Al Hassani, Suleiman Al Hajri, Dirk Watermann (Nature Park), Abdullah Al Abri, Friedel Heuwinkel (Chief of the Lippe District), Ahmed Al Hajri, Henning Schwarze (WHS) and Abdullah Al Masrouri

INTEWO is a leading think tank in the field of sustainable tourism development and education in the Sultanate of Oman. Being aware that young professionals benefit from practical and international experience, INTEWO funded a six weeks internship summer training for five students from Sultan Qaboos University‘s tourism department. The internship is part of an official cooperation between Oman and Germany, which has been signed by Oman‘s Ministry of Tourism and the Teutoburger Wald / Eggegebirge Nature Park and other relevant partners from the public and private sector. In the light of „Tourism and education for sustainable development“ the international student exchange is one of the mutual activities.

INTEWO and its German partner company World Habitat Society GmbH (WHS) prepared a diverse program for the students, which focused on aspects of environmentally considerate tourism, innovation in tourism, biodiversity conservation and education. To gain practical experience, the students were appointed with different organizations and tasks in Germany, which in each case reference to future tourism development in Oman.

The costs for the internship, including accommodation, local transport, language course etc. has been funded by INTEWO. Air-tickets for the students were provided by SQU.

Khalid Al Tobi, Chairman at INTEWO: „For us it is a matter of course to invest in international training opportunities for Omani students. These young professional are the future and we will benefit from the availability of qualified employees and future management.“

„Being with international colleagues and students is enriching the entire workflow in our organization. We all benefit from different views and this is helping us to develop new and sustainable ideas“ said Henning Schwarze, Managing Partner at WHS.

The student exchange between SQU and the partners in Germany took place for the third year in a row. Recently INTEWO, SQU and WHS started planning for the summer training in 2012. Qualified students will be appointed by SQU. Based on the great success of the activity, INTEWO and WHS are currently working on a concept to invite other organizations in Oman to participate in the international exchange and training.

INTEWO is a brand of Gulf Jewels Tours, with its head office in the Sultanate of Oman and branches in Germany and Ethiopia.

FLTR: Manuel Pater and Tamas Hodik, students at the University of Applied Sciences OWL, while taking shots in Salalah

FLTR: Mr. Khalid Al Toubi, Mr. Henning Schwarze (both INTEWO) and H.E. Madiha Ahmed Al-Shaibani (Minister of Education) during a meeting at the Minister's office