The 63rd Congress of the World Federation of Tourism Writers and Journalists (FIJET) held in Tunisia this year. The meeting, hosted by former Tunisian Minister of Tourism Tijani Haddad, Yousser Haddad Kenani and Gaya Haddad between 23-29 October 2023, was attended by FIJET representatives of countries such as Italy, France, Belgium, Bahrain, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, Cameroon, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.
The congress, organized at the Sheraton Hotel in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, started with the speech of Mohammed El Moes Belhassine, Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts. Minister Belhassine touched upon the importance of this meeting in strengthening relations with the local and international press and introduced the various natural and cultural elements of Tunisia, emphasizing the general role of the media and especially the importance of the tourism media.
EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Mohammed El Moes Belhassine said that the tourism media contributes to the concretization of strategies aimed at promoting the tourism products of the countries, implementing various strategies and developing the economies of the countries and attracting investments to the sector. He continued his words by appreciating the efforts of everyone in the sector trying to overcome the difficulties experienced during the pandemic period we left behind, and added that his Ministry is working to further diversify the tourism product and develop sustainable tourism within the framework of the national tourism development strategy until 2035.
“WE AIm for TunIsIa to be one of the most competItIve destInatIons”
Minister Belhassine shared with FIJET members that special importance is given to sustainable tourism and that they support all initiatives and ideas in this field. “We aim for Tunisia to be one of the most competitive and sustainable destinations. We mainly aim to strengthen competition, diversify products and tourism, stimulate investment, marketing and promotion, as well as strengthen the role of tourism as an important driving force in the economic, social and environmental development of the Tunisian territory,” he said.
TIJANI HADDAD MENTIONED FIJET YOUNG ACADEMY AND THE GOLDEN APPLE
FIJET President Tijani Haddad, speaking afterwards, talked about the common ideas in the work of tourism writers and journalists in oral, written and visual media, the importance of digitalization and technology, encouraging young journalists to the profession, the activities of FIJET Young Journalist Academy and encouraging development and appreciation in any sector of the tourism industry, the importance of the Golden Apple, which is considered the World Tourism Oscar.
WISHES FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD
While the congress continued on the third day with the meeting held in Hamamet with the participation of the board members; at the meeting, issues such as the current situation in the Middle East and Black Sea regions and their effects on Mediterranean tourism, sustainable tourism, the determination of the places and dates of the congress planned to be held in the coming periods, Golden Apple and FIJET Academy events were discussed. Following the voting on the charter changes proposed by some members of the federation, the acceptance of member candidate Cameroon, and the decision to appoint Italian representative Giacomo Glaviano as advisor to the president, the meeting ended with wishes for peace in the world.
TOURISTIC ATTRACTION CENTERS WERE INTRODUCED
Within the scope of FIJET 63rd Congress, the cities of Hamamet, Mahdiya and Sousse were introduced to the guests, accompanied by representatives of Tunisian National Television, Jawhara TV and other local press members. During the visits, especially the world-famous mosaic museums and Tunisian cuisine were appreciated by the visitors.
