Pomme d'Or

Founded in Paris in 1954 by the National Associations of France and Belgium, FIJET (French: Federation Internationale de Journalistes et Ecrivans de Tourisme, English: The International Association of Professional Travel Writers and Journalists) is the oldest association of professional travel writers and journalists in the world. With a membership that currently exceeds 600 members in over 35 countries on five continents, it is also one of the world's largest professional organization of travel journalists. Each year, at its annual World Congress, FIJET promotes a particular aspect of world tourism. The Congress, which is held in a different country each year, highlights an area of significant international interest in travel and tourism.


"La Pomme d'Or" or "The Golden Apple" (Romanian: Mărul de Aur) is the FIJET equivalent of the Oscar. This award for excellence is presented each year to an organization, country, city, or person in recognition of superior efforts in promoting and raising the level of tourism. The Golden Apple has gained significant recognition over the years and always has a list of prestigious candidates vying for it. Since it was established in 1970, The FIJET Golden Apple Award has been presented to 41 recipients.


For the first time, this year were awarded three Golden Apples, and is the first time the prize is assigned, the same year, for three tourism destinations / personalities of the same country. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Mărginimea Sibiului (the surroundings of Sibiu), considered by Forbes Magazine "the most romantic area of eco-tourism in the world" and Blue Air (the airline company with the most dynamic growth in Eastern Europe) won for Romania the three prestigious trophies. With Moldoviţa in 1975, Romania is in the exclusive club of countries that hold four prizes, as Belgium and Spain.