Oman to feature on CNN’s Parts Unknown

Muscat: Oman has featured on American television channel CNN’s ‘Parts Unknown’ today at 5am Oman time (9am ET).
The show had presenter and traveller, Anthony Bourdain talk about Oman, its history, traditions and food as the show tried to showcase Oman to its audience around the world.
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The promo aired earlier started with CNN giving three seconds to the audience to point out where on the world map is Oman. This is followed by showing Bourdain’s journey of the Sultanate as he travels through the desert on a camel, walks through the streets of Muttrah Souq and eats lunch with locals on the mountainside and then seems to be eating the traditional ‘mandi’ at an Omani home while sitting down with the family.
“The country of Oman defies expectations; it shouldn’t, according to the cruel logic of the world, exist. But it does and it’s incredible. An Arab nation on the cusp of what’s next,” Bourdain says introducing the Sultanate in the trailer by CNN. He further talks to an Omani businessman about Oman’s future. “You are planning for a post-oil Oman. Is it good or is it bad?” he is shown asking in the promo.
“Oman, if you haven’t gathered it already, is a remarkable place,” read Bourdain’s field notes explaining his activities in Oman.
Parts Unknown is an American travel and food show on CNN, where presenter Anthony Bourdain travels the world, uncovering lesser known places and exploring cultures and cuisines. The show has won five Emmy Awards and 11 nominations for writing, sound mixing, editing and cinematography.
Tourism is a one of the major sectors Oman intends to diversify away from oil and gas as highlighted by Tanfeedh, the National Plan for Economic Diversification. Oman plans to invest nearly OMR2 billion in the tourism industry, according to the recently published handbook by Tanfeedh.
The Minister of Tourism has also stated that Oman will add another 6,000 hotel rooms for tourists by 2020 to reach 25,000 rooms in the next four years.
In a speech at the Tourism Conference held in the Sultanate, Vikram Loomba, director of Advisory Services at PwC said Oman suffers from lack of international awareness. This feature on CNN is certain to change this for Oman.