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The gimcana adapted to the XXI century

// febrero 8th, 2010 // Comentarios desactivados // Communication

Industrial Tourism Network of Catalonia, based in Terrassa, has hidden treasures around the country that can be found with the help of a GPS

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X. Amat
Avui. 07/02/2010

The first thing to play this new proposal is downloaded over the internet family (www.geoxating.cat) the primer indicated on the eight routes designed by the Network of Industrial Turisme de Catalunya (XATIC). Geo-Xating for this sheet is necessary and essential, a GPS, as the hiding places where the treasures are unknown and are only indicated for geocoordenades to be introduced in the browser.

From here, either by car or public transport, and we can begin to move and try to find the treasures, “some well-hidden and others may have more”, explains Josep M. Pey, XATIC manager. “The main objective is to bring people to places where they can discover elements of industrial tourism, as old mines, interpretive centers, etc..” Says the manager. That’s right: do not attempt the eight routes in one day, or even a long weekend! There are hidden treasures from the Penedès Ripollès up from the Empordà Baix Llobregat up. “It makes it possible that in 2006 we formed this network of municipalities, based in Terrassa, they share an important and varied industrial heritage, and this is one more activity we propose to publicize this heritage,” reports Pey. El Vallès Occidental also there, treasures, no way to tell which cities, as this is one of the joys of the game. At each location there maintainers, who are responsible for almost daily to check that the treasures are in place. “It has happened to us an anecdote, like cleaning the brigade have been taken,” says the manager. And is that while some treasures are inside enclosed spaces, others are outdoors and accessible 24 hours. Hours that can be reached each of the treasures is indicated in the primer.

Do not expect to find a chest covered with precious stones: the treasure is not just a lunch box with the logo of the organizers, and once opened will find some detail, as some tickets to visit a nearby museum, or an object reference to where we are. Also, of course, a buffer to seal the box on the card and prove that we found what we wanted. You have to let the saleswoman at the same place. Upon completion of a route-all bear three to six treasures, and can be faxed or e-mail (scan-) and XATIC to qualify for prizes such as weekend stays or magazine subscriptions, which be raffled in April under the International Tourism Fair of Catalonia. The more routes completed, most likely to return a gift, but Josep M. Pey makes clear that “after the conclusion of the Hall, the treasures remain in their posts and therefore can continue to make the routes and looking for”. In the first 200 people get to make a complete path XATIC were presented with an invitation to the International Tourism Exhibition.

The idea is not new this year. The Geo-Xating already opened a year ago, was very positive acceptance was downloaded more than 1,200 cards to make the route. This year is expected to exceed the figure, because, believe Pey, “the debut left too little time between the start of the game and the day of the draw for the gifts.” One of the novelties of this second edition is multixating: in three of the eight routes, only give the coordinates of the first point, from which we must go their finding other until the last treasure. Also new from last year is that some of the roads pass by a single municipality and other lead us cities, including neighboring areas. The Geo-Xating is part of the proceedings of the Revitalization Plan of Tourism Product Innovation Industrial and Technology develops XATIC Catalunya, with the support of the Generalitat and the State Secretariat of Tourism.