Tourism – Page 2

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.

SQU tourism students gather experience in Germany

2012/06/152016/11/26 INTEWO English News, News Arabia, Education, Geotourism, Media, Nature Park Teutoburger Forest / Eggegebirge, Oman, Tourism, UNESCO

Five students from the Tourism Department of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University are currently undergoing summer training with INTEWO in the Teutoburger Forest Nature Park, Germany.

In the frame of an official cooperation between Oman and German governmental and non-governmental organizations, the summer training has been offered for the fourth year in a row.

The training in one of Germany’s most beautiful Nature Parks will last for six weeks. Next to a language course at the University of Paderborn, focusing on tourism related issues; the students will be trained in environmentally friendly tourism practices, destination management, nature conservation and the promotion and concept of UNESCO World Heritage. To undergo training in Germany, a key source of tourists visiting Oman, is a precious experience for the student’s professional future in the tourism sector.

The training program receives financial support from SQU, as well as intellectual, financial and logistic support from INTEWO (Germany), Gulf Jewels Tours (Oman) and the Nature Park Administration. The cooperation between Oman and Germany is a vital contribution towards the rapprochement of cultures and the exchange of knowledge. Henning Schwarze, Managing Partner INTEWO, and Khalid Al Tobi, CEO Gulf Jewels Tours, takes the lead with this important international program.

Along with the tasks of the training, the five students from Oman will also participate in cultural events. E.g. they received an invitation from INTEWO to attend a football match with the Bundesliga team SC Paderborn 07.

INTEWO | World Habitat Society GmbH, headquarted in Germany, has operations in Oman and Ethiopia providing environmental services and sustainable tourism solutions. Gulf Jewels Tours is an Omani destination management company, specialized in Geotourism.

Virtual Museum of Geology

2012/03/122016/11/26 INTEWO English News, News Arabia, Education, Exhibition, Geology, Geotourism, Media, Museum, Oman, Tourism, UNESCO

Virtual Museum — 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