English News – Page 5

Think tank to develop sustainable concepts in Oman

2013/03/222016/11/26 INTEWO English News, News Arabia, Architecture, Education, Edutainment centres, Information centres, Innovation, Media, Museum, Oman, Tourism

// Khalid Al Toubi, INTEWO, and Michele De Lucchi during the visit in Muscat //

To respond to Oman’s growing need to develop projects that can enhance the awareness of its natural environment and cultural heritage a consortium of Omani, German and Italian consultants have been instituted that can provide services for the conception, design and execution of projects for museums, information and edutainment centres that will further increase Oman’s identity and attractiveness in the Middle East.

The consortium is represented by the Omani company INTEWO and is already engaged in advising and conceiving innovative ideas that embrace tourism, education, sustainable architecture and new media technologies. All projects are aimed at creating benefits for both national and local economies that in turn will support social and educational improvement within the countries regions.

Each partner in the consortium brings specific knowledge and international experiences that when combined bring to Oman the most contemporary thinking and creativity in helping realize the ambitious plans of the tourism sector.

During a recent meeting in Muscat the management and key executives of the affiliated firms visited main attractions and the architectural masterpieces in Oman. A workshop and discussions on the diverse cultural and natural heritage in the context of sustainable development, tourism and education trends and services complemented the expert’s visit.

INTEWO, headquartered in Germany with agencies in Oman and Ethiopia, is specialised in the planning, coordination and implementation of sustainable tourism projects and environmental conservation.

RLS JAKOBSMEYER is a leading promotional and media development organization based in Germany that can provide all the production and marketing requirements to provide print, photography and film services.

STUDIO DR ULRICH HERMANNS is one of Germany’s leading specialists that develops comprehensive research, concepts and planning for the execution of museum display and interior design.

STUDIO DE LUCCHI is an internationally recognised architect and designer based in Milan that has created numerous projects that focus on the cultural identity and physical expression of its private clients and public institutions.

Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve

2012/09/132016/11/26 INTEWO English News, News Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia, Lake Tana, UNESCO

A feasibility study towards the establishment of a Biosphere Reserve at Laka Tana, Ethiopia, has been published in the series ‘BfN-Skripten’ by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany.

In 2005 the INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH published a summary report, which was introducing the concept of a Biosphere Reserve in Ethiopia’s Lake Tana region. In 2007 this idea of a UNESCO protected area at the source of the Blue Nile River found support in a study conducted by scientists from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Recently the Michael Succow Fundation for the Protection of Nature published a detailed feasibility study for a Biosphere Reserve at Lake Tana. The study is serving as baseline information for further action, public relations and awareness towards a Biosphere Reserve.

Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, is a most important fresh water contributor to the Nile River, an important bird area and a hotspot for biodiversity in the country. Located in one of the fastest developing regions in East Africa, the Lake Tana area and adjacent regions are hosting a unique cultural heritage, documented with several inscriptions in the World Heritage list. The designation of a Biosphere Reserve in the region will contribute to sustainable growth in this dynamic part of the Horn of Africa, with new sources of income for the local population, promoting the increase of environmentally considerate tourism plus serving the urgent implementation of nature conservation and protected areas.

The feasibility study for a Biosphere Reserve at Lake Tana and additional project information are available on the Michael Succow foundation’s webpage.

INTEWO is working in the Lake Tana region since 2004, providing services in the field of sustainable tourism development and education, with a representative office in the regional capital Bahir Dar.

Corvey Castle ties with Oman

2012/07/022016/11/26 INTEWO English News, News Eastern Westphalia-Lippe, Education, Nature Park Teutoburger Forest / Eggegebirge, Oman, UNESCO, World Heritage

Tourism students from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) visited the Corvey Abbey and Castle in the Höxter District, Germany.

In the context of their summer training in Germany, students from the Tourism Department at SQU, Oman, visited the Corvey Abbey and Castle in Höxter. The Castle of Corvey, lying on the River Weser, was founded in the 9th century as a Benedictine monastery. Currently a regional initiative is working towards listing Corvey as a Cultural World Heritage Site with UNESCO.

To follow up with the field visit to the castle, the SQU students, which undergo a six weeks tourism and sustainable development training in the Nature Park Teutoburger Wald / Eggegebirge, has to work out a proposal for the potential twinning of the Corvey Castle with the Bahla Fort, a World Heritage Site in Oman.

Twinning of World Heritage Sites in Germany and Oman is one of the activities of a formal cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations in Germany and Oman. The cooperation is entitled “Tourism and education for sustainable development” and was officially inaugurated in 2010, in the UN Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.