Journalists Award Český Krumlov with the FIJET Golden Apple Award
Český Krumlov has been awarded the prestigious award called FIJET Golden Apple, an equivalent of an Oscar in tourist destinations. Representatives of the international federation of journalists focusing on tourism FIJET have passed the award to the town on Saturday 17 March at 9 am in the Jesuit Hall of Růže Hotel in Krumlov. This award represents recognition of the outstanding achievements in the area of support and development of tourism. FIJET awards this prize on an annual basis and a there is a total of 43 recipients so far. Brno is the only Czech recipient apart from Krumlov, having received the prize in 2004.
Mainly the extraordinary number of historical sights was decisive for the town's victory. "The fact that Český Krumlov does not only focus on praising its past but can also pride in a very rich, picturesque and valuable cultural and social life at present, has played a role as well," explains Miroslav Navara, Czech representative in the FIJET committee. He appreciated Český Krumlov for having attracted personalities such as world-famous singer Plácido Domingo, who gave a concert in the town last summer.
The Golden Apple also went to Český Krumlov on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the town's entry in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. In the list of FIJET awards, Český Krumlov follows Egypt's Luxor, awarded in 2010. According the Vice-Mayor Ms. Jitka Zikmudnová, the town has full right to the award. "We are very glad that journalists writing about tourism assess Český Krumlov favourably and pay positive attention to our town. The work with media is crucial in our destination management team's marketing activities, therefore journalists from all over the world receive quality service and information in our town throughout the year," she added.
There is no financial award linked to the Golden Apple but the town is now in the center of attention of journalists from four continents. The visit of Český Krumlov and Saturday's award giving ceremony was a culmination of the journey of about 30 foreign reporters, FIJET members, on the basis of which they are bound to publish articles about the Czech Republic, south Bohemia and mainly about Český Krumlov. On Saturday the journalists have visited the Museum Photo Studio Seidel, taken a tour of the town center with a guide and visited the Castle.
FIJET (Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Écrivains du Tourisme) - today International Federation of Journalists and Publicists Focusing on Tourism - is a notable non-government organization of journalists and writers focusing on tourism and everything associated with it. It has been jointly established by journalists from Belgium and France in 1954. The principles of understanding between the nations, exchange of cultural experiences, mutual recognition and respect to inhabitants of different lands and continents became the basis of FIJETS Statues. Federation members have thus joined the ranks of other international institutions active in the area of tourism such as UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization), WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council), IHA (International Hotel Federation), UFTAA (Universal Federation of Travel Agents´ Associations) etc. UNESCO has given a B status to the federation reserved for important expert institutions. This originally European organization has developed into a global institution accepting national organization from all continents. On its 50th anniversary the FIJET Federation had around 800 members from nearly forty countries encompassing four continents. These days the members´ count has exceeded one thousand. These members influence tens of millions of readers and listeners of modern media.
FIJET organizes a congress annually together with the annual General Assembly. Both Management and Executive committees meet through the year. In the past few years countries such as Morocco, Slovenia, China, Turkey but also Czech Republic have hosted the congress. FIJET also organizes study seminars for young journalists focusing on tourism. An award ceremony for internationally renowned tourist destinations called FIJET GOLDEN APPLE Award has been for several decades one of the key events organized by the FIJET Federation every year. This prestigious international prize has been taken by the town of Český Krumlov in 2012.
The session of the FIJET Management and Executive Committees and the FIJET Golden Apple award to Český Krumlo have been held under the auspices of Mr. Kamil Jankovský, Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic and Mr. Jiří Zimola, Hetman of the South Bohemian Region. About thirty journalists, FIJET members from four continents, take part in the event.
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