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Smartphone application on tourism launched

A smartphone application “I-Tour Guide” providing route maps to 30 geotourism spots in the Muscat governorate has been launched here by the Tourism Ministry.

The digital platform also offers complete tourism, environmental and geological information about the sites and is available in four languages — Arabic, English, German and French. The sites include Al Khoudh, Bandar Al Khairan, Wadi Al Meeh and Baushar.

It was launched at a ceremony on Tuesday by Tourism Under-secretary Maithaa bint Saif Al Mahrouqiyah as part of events marking the designation of Muscat as the “Arab Tourism Capital 2012”. She said the new application particularly highlights the “environmental identity enjoyed by the sultanate,” adding that the ministry planned to expand the project with the focus on sustainable environment.

Mahrouqiyah said the project had been implemented in collaboration with specialised companies in geology and environment and the Sultan Qaboos University.

She also said the project would be developed soon to include other governorates.

Said bin Khalfan Al Mesharfi, Director of Tourism Product Development at the ministry, underlined that sustainability was a key element of the ministryâs development strategy.

“This venture,” he added, “is a good model for sustainable development projects supervised by the Tourism Ministry· It is the outcome of reviewing many successful world experiences in displaying the natural and cultural potentials by using environment friendly technologies.” Mesharfi said the programme provided a self-learning avenue for individuals as well as school and university students.

ravindranath@khaleejtimes.com