Međimurje wins La Pomme d'Or award from global association of travel journalists

Tourism journalists from 30 countries have decided that Međimurje will receive the 2024 tourism Oscar - the "Golden Apple".

Namely, Međimurje County is this year's winner of the renowned tourism award "The Golden Apple, “La Pomme d'Or”", and the award ceremony was held in the Atrium of the Old Town of Čakovec on Friday, September 27th. 

Winning this, as they call it - the Oscar of tourism, is not easy, the competition is global, so the Golden Apple is confirmation of the recognition of Međimurje as a destination that unites the ever-increasing demands of the modern tourist.

Today, this includes, among other things, green and sustainable tourism, without which a destination will not even be competitive, but it is also necessary to satisfy a whole range of other factors that will convince the international federation of journalists and travel writers. Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme (FIJET), which awards the award, that a city or region stands out from the competition and deserves to be included on the prestigious list of winners.

FIJET is the world's oldest association of this type, its headquarters are in Paris, it has 650 members from 30 countries who have been awarding the Golden Apple since 1970. Dubrovnik (1996 and 2015), Split (2005), Vučedol, Ilok and Vukovar (2011) and Opatija and Rovinj in 2013 have been awarded in Croatia.

Having the Golden Apple in your basket of awards, along with prestige, brings an obligation to continue in the same direction and develop the destination, emphasizes the director of the Međimurje County Tourist Board, Rudi Grula and adds: ""This is yet another in a series of recognitions that Međimurje has received in the development of sustainable tourism, and it is especially significant because it comes from such a reputable global organization of travel journalists, and of course we continue to work hard to improve the quality of our tourism product and the overall quality of life of the Međimurje local community."

The award, which is a precedent, was personally presented to the people of Međimurje by the president of FIJET, Tijani Haddad from Tunisia.

"We award the award for the preservation and promotion of historical and cultural heritage and tradition in the function of tourism, and to receive it, the destination must also be sustainable, which is not easy to achieve because the criteria for this are very rigid. Međimurje deserves the Golden Apple."  

The FIJET award is the latest in a series that Međimurje County has received in this, 2024, the golden year of Međimurje tourism. Among other awards, Međimurje was declared the Best Continental Tourism Destination 2024 and is the winner of the "Simply the Best" award.

Prefect of Međimurje Matija Posavec says that the Golden Apple is important because it is awarded by travel journalists from numerous countries who have traveled the world and are not biased.

"The Međimurje Award shows that tourism is not just sun and sea, but history, gastronomy, culture, natural beauty... We are trying to connect all of this into one brand, a product, encompassing the entire region, a green oasis in the heart of Europe." concluded the Međimurje County Prefect. 

The award flatters the people of Međimurje, but it does not surprise anyone who follows developments in domestic tourism, as well as the tens of thousands of tourists who recorded 221.103 overnight stays last year. The fact is that Međimurje County is investing significant efforts and resources to place Međimurje not only on the domestic and European, but also on the world tourist map.

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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 certificate in Croatia that guarantee a high standard with a focus on environmental preservation.

Turning to a green business strategy takes Međimurje out of the Croatian framework and places it among the most aware regions in the world, such as Costa Rica, the Azores, Palau-Malaysia, the Galapagos, and Slovenia.