Considered the equivalent of the Oscar in cinema, the "Golden Apple", "Pomme d'Or" or "Golden Apple" is awarded to an organization, a city or a personality, in recognition of the efforts to promote and develop tourism. The winners are selected following the analysis of the application files and the vote given by a jury made up of FIJET members. This year, the award was awarded to the city of Timișoara, designated European Capital of Culture.
"I feel honored to receive this award on behalf of the city, a distinction that makes us happy and, at the same time, pushes us to further promote the story of Timișoara, a story based on its undeniable values: diversity, innovation, courage. We live in a world where it is increasingly difficult to build bridges between people, which is why I believe that the value of travel, tourism and hospitality has never been more important. We need partners, allies, in transmitting the values of Timișoara throughout the world and I believe that the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers is one of the promoters of the idea, which has existed for thousands of years, namely that it is good to travel, to visit other countries, to get to know other cultures, other people, with their stories and perspectives, and, in this way, to develop ourselves completely as members of the same family, humanity. Timișoara strives to promote exactly this idea in the long term "...long, the quality of European Capital of Culture being just a strong start," said Dominic Fritz, mayor of Timișoara, on the occasion of receiving the "Golden Apple" distinction.
"This trophy, which has become a tradition for over 50 years, is awarded to a city or a region, a tourist destination, and is handed over to the mayor or representative of that destination by the public authorities. The Golden Apple goes to a tourist destination that knows how to promote itself and that develops sustainable tourism. Timișoara has convinced us of this and I am sure that it has a beautiful and sustainable tourism future. And I say this not only on my own behalf, but as a representative of the Federation of Tourism Journalists' Guilds from all over the world", emphasized Tijani Haddad, president of the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET).
"First of all, I thank Timisoara for giving us back our freedom in 1989 and I congratulate the people of Timisoara for obtaining the title of European Capital of Culture in 2023. This remarkable achievement, along with obtaining the Golden Apple trophy, is due to the good collaboration between local authorities and representatives of the tourism industry, carriers, cultural and entertainment institutions, museums and many others. Timisoara is a cosmopolitan city. We are proud that it is a Romanian city, but it belongs equally to Europe and the whole world. We are honored that FIJET has also contributed to promoting this city and I am sure that although Timisoara has a beautiful past, it will have an even more beautiful and, obviously, touristic future," said Ștefan Baciu, president of the Tourism Press Club - FIJET Romania.
The first "Golden Apple" trophies were awarded in 1971
Sicily, the Efteling amusement park, with representations of fairy tales, from the Netherlands and Bokrijk, a park and museum complex near the Belgian city of Genk, were then rewarded. Bokrijk is known for its open-air museum, which presents the history of rural life through an impressive collection of old buildings from all over the province of Flanders.
Last fall, FIJET awarded two "Golden Apple" trophies, one to the city of Novi Sad (Serbia), the other to the city of Izmir ( Turkey ). Before the pandemic, in 2019, the city of Oradea was rewarded by FIJET with the "Golden Apple". From 1971 to the present, FIJET has awarded 69 such trophies, of different sizes and shapes, the rule being that a maximum of three Golden Apples can be awarded in a year.
The International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers, known by the acronym FIJET, is one of the oldest media associations in the world, with a history of over 65 years. FIJET was founded in Paris, on December 2, 1954, under the name "Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme", by an initiative group made up of travel writers from France and Belgium, who were joined by other journalists and travel writers from Greece , Italy and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Currently, FIJET has over 30 affiliated national associations, including the FIJET Romania Travel Press Club.
About the Tourism Press Club - FIJET Romania
Established in 2007, the Tourism Press Club – FIJET Romania is the Romanian organization affiliated to the International Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers / Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme (FIJET). The Tourism Press Club – FIJET Romania is formed by professional journalists from the print, radio and television press who understand the needs and requirements of the association’s members and colleagues. The permanent objective is to provide the best and most professional services to all members. Being a professional organization, FIJET Romania provides support to member journalists in organizing trips and documenting for the preparation of materials, and even with the introduction of these articles in respected publications around the world, as well as exchanging information with other members and industry professionals. Membership in the Tourism Press Club – FIJET Romania is open to professional journalists from the tourism, gastronomy and oenology press, radio and television journalists, photographers, etc. Membership extends to publishers and editors of publications with related specializations, book authors, and freelancers.
The funkytravel.ro platform is a member of the Tourism Press Club – FIJET Romania.
