A team of four Swiss journalists won the first international media treasure hunt event organised by Oman Air to showcase that the Sultanate while being the essence of Arabia is indeed an oasis of peace, stability and security
Oman Air, working with the Ministry of Tourism, organised the first of its kind International Media Treasure Hunt to showcase the wonders of the Sultanate of Oman to some of Europe's leading media personalities.
Instead of holding the regular familiarisation trips for tour operators and journalists, Oman Air launched this exciting action-packed event for journalists who were able to discover as much as possible about the history, culture, landscapes, nature and people of the Sultanate. The indirect message through this event was that Oman as a country is an oasis of peace and stability and welcomes the discerning tourist to taste the country's rich and diverse natural beauty, culture and heritage.
The first annual Oman Air International Media Treasure Hunt pitted teams of journalists from Oman Air's European destinations of France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK against each other in this challenge.
Each teams consisted of four journalists each, who were flown in Oman Air's award-winning business class from their home countries to Oman to take part. They were encouraged to use social media to call on their readers' and viewers' assistance in solving the clues they are given, and the whole event was filmed for broadcast at a later date.
Tremendous interest was generated through the social media across Europe as the journalists gave blow-by-blow account of their adventure. Regular updates were also provided via Oman Air's Facebook pages and Twitter account, and on YouTube in five different languages.
The search for information will be triggered by a series of cryptic clues and will involve travel across the length and breadth of the Sultanate, using every imaginable form of transport, from taxis and hire cars to aircraft, boats and camels.
The adventure ran between February 6 and 13 and began and ended with a night's stay in one of Muscat's finest five-star hotels. In between those nights of luxury, participating teams raced against each other as they scoured the country for information and insights into Omani life. A team of Swiss journalists emerged as the winners. While launching the event, Wayne Pearce, CEO, Oman Air, in comments to the media stated, "We are delighted to be launching this unique event, which will take the cream of European journalism on the tour of a lifetime around Oman. They will discover for themselves the breath-taking landscapes, unspoiled coastline, rich culture and long history of this beautiful country, experience its safety and serenity and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Omani people."
Mohammed Al Shikely, general manager marketing at Oman Air, in close coordination with Oman Air's corporate communication and media department, oversaw the launch of this media treasure hunt. The Treasure Hunt covered several locations in Oman and at each location there were challenges of between 30 minutes and 3 hours. It was stressed that each solution to a clue should be discovered on camera. The journalists were trained on how to use hand-held GPS devices.
Kicking off day one of the challenge, the five teams - from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland - paid a visit to Muscat's Grand Mosque.
Having toured this iconic landmark and received their first clue, the teams then visited the capital's awe-inspiring Royal Opera House, before moving on to Muttrah to see the souk and Bait Al Zubair, Oman's foremost museum of Omani history. Throughout the course of the day, each team searched for solutions to the clues they had been given and by the evening, it was clear that the Italian team had taken first place, after overtaking the UK's early lead.
The second day of the challenge saw each team move to Nizwa, where the city's famed spice market provided the solution to their first clue, in the form of dried lemons. They then pushed on into the area of the ruggedly beautiful Jabal al Akhdhar (Green Mountain), where the hunt took the teams to the picturesque village of Misfat al Abiyeen and its ancient Falaj irrigation system.The next port of call was the vast Al Hoota caves, where the solution to the day's final clue could be found. Having been given a head start at the beginning of the day in recognition of coming first on day one, the Italian team retained their lead and hung onto the top spot as the sun set on day two's activity.
After a good night's rest at the Sahab Hotel, the teams began day three by crossing Al Wasil to Mintrib, in the Sharqiya Sands, where, as well as continuing their investigations, participants found time to photograph the breath-taking scenery and race across the region's spectacular dunes.
But it wasn't all light hearted and both the Swiss and Italian teams' vehicles soon became stuck in the sand. However, the Swiss team freed themselves first and pressed ahead to become the day's victors, before joining with all the other participants to spend a night under the desert stars in a Bedouin-style luxury encampment.
An early start on day four preceded a morning of camel rides, dune trekking and a long drive to the lighthouse at Sur, the ancient home of Omani Dhow-building. Clues led the teams to the bow of a boat in Wadi Shaab, where the next step of their marathon was to start.
By the time each team had arrived back at the Shangri-La Bar al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat, the battle for first place was neck and neck, with the Swiss and Italian teams sharing the honours. Each journalist retired exhausted, but with memories of Oman that will last a lifetime. The last 24 hours of the International Media Treasure Hunt saw the five teams head south to Salalah, the capital of Oman's Dhofar Governorate.
Here, they not only experienced the region's renowned hospitality and culture, but also its lush greenery, steep mountains and deep wadis. Another unforgettable day unfolded, with each team racing in four-wheel drives to the huge Al Baleed archaeological site, where they found the answer to their clue at the Merchant's House.
© Oman Economic Review 2012
