On this World Tourism Day, September 27, Fijet brought the “Golden Apple Award” to Medjimurje County, Croatia for for an exceptional synergy of natural,historical and cultural heritage, and its implementation in sustainable tourism.
By valuing and preserving cultural and natural heritage, Medjimurje secures the constancy of cultural values, as well the potential for further development of tourism, its affirmation, stimulation of the economic competitiveness and improved quality of life.
Great recognition came as a result of effort, work, commitment of all residents of Međimurje. This is a reward for all those who tirelessly and devotedly take care of the orderliness of their homeland, environmental protection, preservation of natural and cultural values and its sinergy and implementation in tourism.
With this valuable recognition, it was recognized by the media professionals at the world level.
A prestigious ceremony took place in the old town Cakovec – Zrinski castle, at its atrium, fortified noble castle in the center of Cakovec what symbolizes the identity and tradition of Medjimurje.
During an official ceremony Tijani Haddad The Fijet President and Tina Eterovic Cubrilo, the President of Fijet Croatia personaly presented the award to Mr. Matija Posavec,the County Mayor and Rudi Grula, the director of County Tourist Office, in the presence of Fijet Executive Committee-Tijani Haddad, Tina Eterovic Cubrilo, Salah Attia, Delal Atamdede, Plamen Starev, Stefan Baciu, Najib Senhadji, Marijana Rebic, as well as Fijet GA Committee members, Mohamed Attia, Jacques Campe and numerous journalists from Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as the presence of County Delegation composed by Ljerka Cividini, the City Cakovec Mayor and Dragutin Glavina, the President of County Assembly.
Speaking for giving the award, Tijani Haddad, The President of Fijet said: “We award Medjimurje for an exceptional sinergy of natural,historical, cultural heritage and tradition in the function of tourism, and in order to receive it, the destination must also be sustainable, which is not easy to achieve because the criteria for this are very rigid. Medjimurje deservedly receives the Golden Apple”.
County Mayor of Međimurje, Matija Posavec said that the Golden Apple is important because it is awarded by travel journalists from many countries who have traveled the whole world and are not biased.
“The Međimurje award shows that tourism is not only sun and sea, but also history, gastronomy, culture, natural beauty… We are trying to combine all of this into one brand, product, encompassing the entire region, a green oasis in the heart of Europe” concluded the County Mayor of Međimurje.
The director of the Tourist Board of Međimurje County, Rudi Grula emphasizes: „Having the Golden Apple in one’s basket of awards, in addition to prestige, also brings the obligation to continue in the same direction and develop the destination, and adds: This is one more in a series of recognitions that Međimurje receives in the development of sustainable tourism, and it is especially significant because it comes from such a respected global organization of tourism journalists, and of course we continue to work hard on the even better quality of our tourist product and the overall quality of life of the Međimurje local community.”, and of course we continue to work hard to improve the quality of our tourist product and the overall quality of life of the local community in Međimurje – he points out .
With heartfelt congratulations, in her address, Tina Eterović Čubrilo, among other things, emphasized the historical and world role of FIJET and pointed out that this year’s recognition of FIJET – “Golden Apple”, journalistic tourism Oscar is awarded for overall care, preservation and investment in natural, historical and cultural heritage and tradition, for the development of quality and sustainable tourism. “This award is given Medjimurje to recognize outstanding efforts in promoting and raising the level of tourism. We are proud of their contribution to Croatian Tourism quality”, she said.
Today, this includes, among other things, green and sustainable tourism, without which the destination will not even enter the competition.
The award flatters the people of Međimurje, but everyone who follows events in domestic tourism, as well as tens of thousands of tourists who spent 221.103 nights last year, is not surprised. It is a fact that the Međimurje County invests considerable efforts and resources in order to place Međimurje not only on the domestic and European, but also on the world tourist map. After all, it is the first Croatian destination with the Green Destination label, which is proof of the successful implementation of the green transition, and as many as 13 Međimurje tourist facilities are holders of the first Good Travel certificates in Croatia, which guarantee a high standard with a focus on environmental protection. Turning to a green business strategy Međimurje ranks it as a region with the most conscious in the world such as Costa Rica, Azores, Palau-Malaysia, Galapagos and Slovenia.
The FIJET award is the last in a series that the Međimurje County received this year, 2024, the golden year of Međimurje tourism. Among other awards, Međimurje was declared the Best Destination of Continental Tourism in 2024 and won the “Simply the best” award.
This is 73rd Fijet „ Golden Apple“ and 7th Award given to Croatian Destinations: Dubrovnik (1996 and 2015), Split (2005), Vučedol, Ilok and Vukovar (2011) and Opatija and Rovinj in 2013 have been awarded in Croatia.