The 12th Marco Polo Awards, where the best travel writers are awarded, found their owners at a ceremony held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The organization hosted by FIJET Croatia, which represents the World Federation of Tourism Writers and Journalists (FIJET) in Croatia, was extremely colorful.
The Marco Polo Award Ceremony, combined with the excitement of the World Cup and the great success of the Croatian National Football Team, witnessed a more enthusiastic atmosphere. The award ceremony was attended by FIJET President Tijani Haddad, as well as FIJET representatives from Hungary, Slovenia and Turkey. While emphasizing that the awards determined as a result of surveys and researches, and decided after the evaluation of not only success, but also many qualities; it was reported that the selection committee consisted of Ante Gavranovic, Hrvoje Zovko, Jadranka Rilovic and Marija Baric.
FOCUSING ON UNDISCOVERED AND INTERESTING DESTINATIONS
The intention is to award and entice domestic journalists to write travel articles, stories of Croatian regions, people, customs and traditions, to be used by tourism professionals as an incentive for new content, tourism offer or as motivation for tourists and media promotion of new tourism products and content. The goal is to affirm this specific form of journalism, develop tourism through interesting stories, myths, legends of certain tourism destinations which will attract tourists. There also exists a desire to entice journalists to focus more on discovering their own country, especially small, undiscovered and interesting destinations, affirming domestic values.
BEST TRAVEL WRITERS AWARDED
As part of the 12th Marco Polo Awards, the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Media” was given to Ante Gavranovic, the doyen of Croatian travel journalism and one of the founders of FIJET Croatia. The “Domestic Travel Articles Award” was given to Daria Marjanovic for her Croatian TV interviews that inspired Croatian TV viewers to explore. Five “Marco Polo” medals also given to tourism professionals in order to create new content and resources. Medals for excellence awarded to journalists who publish stories about Croatian regions, people, traditions, unexplored and interesting destinations include:
- Zrinka Turalija: Editor-in-chief responsible for daily interviews on all aspects of Croatian culture, broadcast on National TV.
- Jurika Galic Juka: For interviews from Central Dalmatia published on the “Dalmatia” portal.
- Kvarner & Istria: Youtube, Lara Cernicki Magazine Meridijani Journalists.
- Hrvoje Gunjaca: Croatian TV reporter and author of TV interview about Knin in the Dalmatian hinterland.
- Goran Safarek: For interviews from the Medjimurje continental region published in Croatia Airlines Inflight Magazine.
FIVE SPECIAL AWARDS FOR CROATIAN TRAVEL JOURNALISM
Five special awards were also given to journalists who made outstanding contributions to Croatian travel journalism, Croatian culture, nature and heritage. Former Croatian Radio Journalist Dragica Lemesic, Croatian Radio Journalist Mirjana Zugec Pavivic, Writer Oleg Mastruko, Croatian Marinas Tourism Patrol Editorial Team – Jutarnji list and Matej Mestrovic for their outstanding contribution to Croatian music were awarded. Journalist and FIJET member Alexander Stemp from Hungary was also awarded the special “Marco Polo” medal for his interview on Zagreb “With love from Zagreb”.
THANKS FROM TINA CUBRILLO
FIJET Croatia President Tina Cubrillo, who delivered a speech of thanks at the end of the programme said; “We would like to thank our guest of honor Mr. Nikola Petricevic – Ministry of Tourism, Jasna Vanicek Fila – Ministry of Culture and Media, Slavija Jacan Obratov – Croatian Tourism Office, Niko Bulic – former Minister of Tourism, Dijana Katica – Member of the Tourism Committee of the Croatian Parliament, FIJET President Tijani Haddad, Oriovac Mayor and all our guests, partners and members of FIJET Croatia who attended the ceremony. Next year’s awards are already looking pretty exciting.”
