The 14th Marco Polo Awards delivered

The Marco Polo Awards, considered one of Croatia’s most important tourism organizations and described as a “prestige award” by tourism authorities, have found their owners. The Marco Polo Awards Ceremony, organized for the 14th time this year as part of the traditional Marco Polo Festival, took place at the Esplanade, one of the famous hotels in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The awards ceremony was attended by members of the World Federation of Tourism Writers and Journalists (FIJET) and tourism writers and journalists from many countries around the world.

HOSTED FOUR CELEBRATIONS

The fact that Croatia hosted four celebrations within the scope of this organization was evaluated by the participants as “It was a meeting that will be remembered for many years” and they thanked those who contributed to the organization at every opportunity for it to be carried out flawlessly.

FIJET’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

The event celebrated the 70th anniversary of FIJET, which has an important place in world tourism and was founded in 1954; in addition, the 60th anniversary of the addition of the phrase “Tourism Journalists” to the federation in 1964, the 19th anniversary of the establishment of FIJET Croatia and the 14th anniversary of the Marco Polo Awards were also celebrated.

CONTRIBUTION TO TOURISM JOURNALISM

The 14th Marco Polo Awards Ceremony was moderated by Frano Ridan. Starting his speech by mentioning the contributions of the best international and local travel writings to tourism journalism and thanking all partners and sponsors who have supported this event for 13 years, Ridan said; “I am very happy to be here tonight with our friends from many countries of the world and to applaud them.”

GREAT INTEREST FROM CROATIAN TOURISM AUTHORITIES

Croatian tourism authorities showed great interest in the award ceremony; among these names were spokesperson Jelena Kolar from the Croatian Ministry of Tourism, Nina Obuljen Koržinek from the Ministry of Culture and Media and Jasna Vaniček Fila from the Media Directorate, Daria Trnka from the Public Relations Advisor of the Croatian Tourism Board, Ivana Alilović from the Zagreb County Tourism Board, Darja Dragoje from the Zagreb City Tourism Board, Renata Tomljenović from the Tourism Institute, Miro Gavran from Matica Hrvatska and Ivica Krizmanić from Hotel Esplanade.

THE 14TH MARCO POLO AWARDS AND WINNERS

• Marija Crnjak – Jutarnji List (For an exceptional contribution to tourism journalism)
• Nikola Baraka – Croatian Travel Festival Šibenik (For an exceptional contribution to the promotion of tourist travelogues with inspiring stories about the journeys of travel writers, travelers and people who are part of their careers and lives)
• Mate Svjetski – Vrgorac (For the annual meeting of world travelers, travel writers, adventurers, adventurers and all lovers of travel)
• Jerko Sladoljev (For an exceptional contribution to the promotion and development of camping tourism)
• Lovinac Tourist Forum (For organizing the Oxygene concert at Tulove Grede on Majstorska cesta, a unique musical event on one of the most fascinating Croatian historical, natural and cultural rarities)
• Jasmina Mrkonja (For exceptional media communication in promoting Rastoke as one of the world’s most beautiful villages, declared in 2023)
• Dalmatian Klapa Festival Omiš (For special merits in promoting, preserving, popularizing and developing the musical culture of klapa songs in Croatia)
• Dagmar Meneghello (For the successful connection and promotion of culture and tourism)
• Philip Nicolaides (For the series of reports published about Zagreb)
• Miro Gavran (For his exceptional contribution to the promotion of Croatian culture and literature in the world, as the most translated and most performed Croatian playwright)
• Frano Herendija (For the magazine “In Love with Konavle”, which covers stories about the cultural and historical heritage of Konavle, customs and traditions, past and present)
• Maja Zlokić (For tourist stories and reports from hidden and authentic destinations with traditional events, published in the magazine Croatia Hot Spots)
• Rade Popadić (For the project of authentic stories Pečat od vrimena, which in a unique way depicts life in the Dalmatian hinterland, published on the video portal Dalmacija Danas)
• Mirjam Jukić (For a series of authentic stories from Croatia, especially continental ones, published on the Turističke priče/ HRTurizam portal)
• Senka Vlahović (For the report Osijek romantic, relaxed and self-effacing city on the Drava, published on the website Putovanja HR)
• Božo Skoko and Zvonimir Frka Petešić (For the book “Croatia in 30 Stories”, which tells about Croatian identity, way of life, peculiarities, similarities and differences with other European nations, presenting all the best that Croatia has and offers)
• Maja Zagoričnik and İztok Škofić (For a TV film about Tunisia, the host country of the FIJET congress in 2023)
• Tijana Haddad and Tina Čubriloda (FIJET TOLERANCE – an award established by FIJET in 2020 for a life of tolerance and mutual understanding of diversity, which is its mission)
• Sandra Paović (For the exceptional promotion of tolerance and understanding of diversity through sport)
• Zadar Tolerance Festival (To promote intercultural dialogue and understanding of diversity through films, exhibitions and various educational content)
• Ante Gavranović – Lifetime Achievement Awards (For the doyen of tourism journalism and founder of FIJET Croatia, launched in the former state)
• Tina Eterović Čubrilo – Lifetime Achievement Awards “For the key contribution to the development of tourism journalism and the affirmation of FIJET in promoting destinations and excellence in the media, culture and tourism”
• Tourist Board of Međimurje County (For exceptional contribution and partnership in the implementation of FIJET Croatia projects)
• Croatian Association of Congress Tourism Professionals (For exceptional contribution and partnership in the implementation of FIJET Croatia projects)