Međimurje winner of the La Pomme d'Or award of the 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 award in tourism "Golden apple", "La Pomme d'Or”, and the award ceremony was held in the Atrium of the old town of Čakovec on Friday, September 27. 

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

Today, this includes, among other things, green and sustainable tourism, without which the destination will not even enter the competition, but it is also necessary to satisfy a whole series 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 the city or region leads the competition and deserves to be included in 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 one's basket of awards, in addition to prestige, also brings the obligation to continue in the same direction and develop the destination, emphasizes the director of the Tourist Board of Međimurje County, Rudi Grula 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."

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

"We award the award for the preservation and improvement of 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. Međimurje deservedly receives the Golden Apple."  

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.

Prefect of Međimurje Matija Posavec says 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 Prefect of Međimurje. 

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.

/ / / Međimurje was awarded the prestigious prize for sustainability - Green Destinations

/ / / Why is Međimurje not "sexy"? Međimurje must be the benchmark of our tourism

/ / / Ben Fogle: Međimurje rightly bears the label Green Destination

After all, it is the first Croatian destination with the Green Destination mark, 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 protection.

Turning to a green business strategy excludes Međimurje from the Croatian framework and ranks it as a region alongside the most conscious in the world such as Costa Rica, the Azores, Palau-Malaysia, the Galapagos and Slovenia.