The World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET) chose Turkey’s Konya city for the 2017 Golden Apple Award. The Golden Apple, which decided to be given to Turkey’s Konya City with the opinion of tourism writers and journalists active in many countries of the world, was introduced to mayor of the city with a ceremony held on 29th of September in Konya.
FROM ITALY TO RUSSIA, EGYPT TO CROATIA
Nearly 300 guests from Turkey and abroad attended the award ceremony held at Konya Hotel Novotel, including participants from countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, Malta, Tunisia, Palestine, Algeria and Croatia.
HADDAD: TOURISM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTOR FOR TOLERANCE
FIJET World President Tijani Haddad, stated the followings when handing over the Golden Apple Award to Konya Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Akyürek; “Tourism, besides other industries, also contributes to international understanding by providing regional integration. It is also known that tourism is a very important actor for tolerance around the world. It has been effective for choosing Turkey’s beautiful city Konya to have been hosting Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi and the concepts of ‘tolerance’ and ‘understanding’ for 800 years.”
AKYÜREK: GOLDEN APPLE INCREASED OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Mayor Akyürek emphasized that achieving the Golden Apple Award gives them a new responsibility and said; “We will rearrange our projects and programs accordingly. Konya, the 2016 Islamic Tourism Capital, both gained strength and took responsibility with the Golden Apple in 2017. Although some countries approach to Turkey with a prejudice, we are very pleased by the unity of vote and consensus.On behalf of my country, in the name of Konya and on behalf of myself, I express many thanks. We will sign many new works and projects with all institutions and organizations in Konya.”
ABOUT KONYA CITY
Konya, one of the first settlements of human history and bearing the traces of many civilizations in history, is almost a museum city. City, which has countless history, culture and natural richness, is also known with the Islamic elders, especially Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. It has been on strategic roads throughout history, and one of the most important trade and accommodation centers of the historical Silk Road.
ANKARA, ADIYAMAN, ANTALYA AND KONYA
Delay Atamdede, President of FIJET Turkey, expressed his happiness that the Golden Apple Award, which is among the most respected awards of tourism world, came to Turkey for the fourth time. Atamdede signified; “Ankara, Adıyaman and Antalya cities of Turkey have won this award previously. This time me and my colleagues made intensive efforts for Konya to achieve the Golden Apple, because of the sensitivity to preserving their historical values and cultural heritage. I want to thank everyone for their hard work.”
CONFERENCE FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN TOURISM FOUNDATION
After the 2017 Golden Apple Award Ceremony, a conference organized by the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation which headquartered in Malta. Headed by the Secretary General of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation, Andrew Agius Muscat, speakers of the conference were Matteo Fortunati from Italy, Mona Khalilieh Salah from Palestine and Gail Demanuele from Malta. In particular, the words of Palestinian Mona Khalilieh Salah, “Turmoil and troubles are the main enemies of tourism” were applauded.
One of the guests who came for the Golden Apple Award Ceremony were Anthony Zahra, founder of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation, and Secretary General Andrew Agius Muscat. Muscat said; “Turkey has a very important tourism values. We love your country so much, and we feel as comfortable as we are at home”. Ercan Uslu, Gail Demanuele, Mona Khalilieh Salah, İshmael Borg, Anthony Zahra, Andrew Agius Muscat, Barbaros Kon, Matteo Fortunati and Hakan Eren…
In addition to the national and local press of Turkey, the Golden Apple Award Ceremony attracted great interest from abroad. While it was included in the main news on Turkish TVs, it also appeared as news in foreign TVs. Furthermore, many magazines and newspapers have made appointments for interviews…
After the award ceremony, guests firstly visited the Mevlana Museum, which has an important role in receiving the Golden Apple…
The second stop of guests was the Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden, which is the Europe’s largest tropical butterfly garden. Thousands of butterfly here magnified the group…
Besides the natural sites, efforts which made to conserve the city’s religious and historical riches were important factors for the Golden Apple Award. One of these monuments, Aya Elena Church, was among the places visited by the guests…
