The Budapest Times this ceremony coincided with both this year’s World Tourism Day (see unwto.org) and the 70th anniversary of FIJET the International Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers (see fijetworld.org) It was the sixth time this distinct oscar has featured in Croatia The magisterial ceremony was held in the presence of FIJET President Tijani Haddad and the Executive Committee of Tina Eterović Čubrilo as well as FIJET Golden Apple Committee members Mohamed Attia and Jacques Campe all-round excellence is presented each year to an organizational country city or person in recognition of superior efforts in promoting and raising greater awareness for modern-day and up-to-date tourism trends in their own localities whilst also working towards substainability for the future and maintaining cultural and traditional values and general heritage as reward for restoring economic competitiveness and improving quality of life for all alongside maintaining the general upkeep of obvious ecology and environmental issues and safeguarding sustainable protection today so that tourism continues into the future no nomination will be entered for the sought-after Golden Apple The award was presented by President Haddad Posavec concluded that the Golden Apple is important because it is awarded by travel experts from many countries who have seen much of the world and are not biased He said the Međimurje award shows that tourism is not only sun and sea but also history “We are trying to combine all into one exclusive brand encompassing this immediate area as a green oasis in the heart of Europe,” the mayor said President Haddad added: “We awarded Međimurje for an exceptional accordance of natural cultural heritage and tradition in the function of tourism the destination must also be sustainable combined too which is not easy to achieve because the criteria for this is very strict and Međimurje deservedly receives the Golden Apple trophy.” The award compliments the people of Međimurje and their general teamwork tourism in the region accounts for only 3% of the local economy There were 221,103 registered overnight guests last year the county invests considerable time and effort in order to merit a place not only on the domestic and European tourism map but also internationally it is the first place in Croatia with the “Green Destination” label which is proof of the successful implementation of the green transition And as many as 13 Međimurje tourist facilities are holders of the first “Good Travel” certificates in Croatia which guarantee a high standard with a focus on everyday environmental issues and protection Međimurje ranks as a greener-than-most region Before the main event began in Međimurje County it was of high importance for the local authorities to introduce the various guests to give us an idea of what to expect from the serene vicinity with archaeological displays of ethnographic and historical artefacts alongside many aspects of folklore and carnival activities of past times These include an one-off illustrated report relating to local “gold washing” as very fine traces of gold were found over the years by the rivers Mura and Drava The central and spacious courtyard hosts outdoor theatre performances throughout the summer For this and more about this essential landmark Local legend has it that somewhere underneath the murky depths of the Old Town centre lived a menacing dragon called Pozoj that created earthquakes and general misfortune before being finally defeated by Dijak Grabancijaš The approximate dates remain unknown but even so there is plenty of symbolism relating to this demon draped throughout Čakovec This sudden burst of wanderlust came before a welcoming dinner which was served at the Zrinski Castle restaurant and hosted by the hospitable Mayor Posavec and Rudi Grula the director of the Međimurje Tourist Office This was also a chance to sample regional gastronomy and wines our group was taken for a short bus ride to the idyllic and serene Sveti Martin a tranquil riverside locality near Žabnic village with a water-mill and wondrous scenery around the River Mura This delightful haven has thermal-mineral waters one can learn about being a miller at the interactive Miller House museum the Mađerkin Breg lookout tower not only presents a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the very manicured vineyards directly below but on clear days one can also look into Slovenia After witnessing the convincing highlights of this very lush, green hub, a late lunch was served at the hilly plains of the upmarket Restoran Terbotz (see https://www.terbotz.hr/) may have been a characteristic old-style manor house from imperial 19th- century times It certainly delivered the best of locally produced Croatian fayre in spacious surroundings before our return journey back to base the main feature began within the Zrinski Castle confines and the prestigious occasion was attended by Ljerka Cividini The official ceremony began with President Haddad who presented the Golden Apple award to County Mayor Posavec and Međimurje tourist director Grula Speeches soon began to fly as the evening progressed such as the following in words to these effects – a green oasis in the heart of Europe,” emphasized Matija Posavec it is an exceptional honor for us to be recognized as innovative,” said Grula “Having the Golden Apple in one’s basket of awards also brings the wish to continue in this same direction and develop further And of course we continue to work hard to improve the quality of our tourist product and the overall quality of life of the local community here in Međimurje too.” “It’s my first time in this city and it’s amazing It is very clean and the people are welcoming You are a visitor here and you are welcome face to face – and that is very important,” said FIJET President Haddad Tina Eterović Čubrilo offered heartfelt congratulations while emphasizing the historical and world role of FIJET She pointed out that the 2024 Golden Apple had been awarded for overall care historical and cultural heritage and tradition and for the development of quality and sustainable tourism “This award is given to multimedia to recognize all outstanding efforts in promoting and raising the level of tourism We are proud of their contribution to Croatian tourism quality,” she concluded “Sustainable tourism is the basis for all progress including the areas between the Mura and Drava rivers.” And how much effort it takes to recognize a “green destination” is well known to Mr the owner of two international eco-certificates we also educate school groups on our property practically part of biodynamics and prepare traditional Međimurje food for our honoured guests.” you are so beautiful and green!” was eloquently sung by renowned singers Marija Vidović and Mirko Švenda Žiga when they took to the stage the day ended with another splendid late-night celebratory supper Most travellers still only pass by Međimurje in transit from Vienna Budapest and elsewhere as they make their way directly to the Adriatic Sea but they are missing out – at least for now This could be an advantage though for those who do not like the crowds and excessive traffic of commercialised tourism It makes the tranquil county even more ideal Međimurje was named a Green Destinations region at the ITB Berlin in 2023 and has won the silver Green Destination award which makes this “Green Garden” region the first in Croatia and the world’s fourth region to join the Green Destinations certification program Čakovec and the Međimurje region will continue to enjoy exceptional quality recognition among partners and tourists around the world and to develop sustainable and responsible tourism in line with United Nations principles and goals of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Whilst taking a stroll around this market town on my last day it was humorous and touching to see it was “Pumpkin Time” Many displays of oversized and stuffed rag dolls aligned the streets positioned upright around lampposts and so forth It was a reminder that colder spells are now upon us for sure Finally there is a treat in store for David Bowie fans late singing legend from London came to Čakovec in 1990 Assumably he must have been on tour and was in passing either to or from Zagreb to elsewhere There is a life-sized monument dedicated to him at 9 Josipa Jurja Strossmayera Street make your way to the reposeful Međimurje region as this makes the best orientation point to all else close by Getting there from Budapest is easy by car which passes alongside Lake Balaton to the open 24/7 Letenye border crossing and a very short while later comes the Number 3 road which turns off Now that this EU border is completely open on a good day the 260-kilometer journey can be accomplished within three hours For this and more, check out Visit Međimurje (visitmedimurje.com) Here are two nationwide news reports – Međimurje Tourist Oscar-Golden Apple – HRT and New Awards for Sustainable Tourism in Međimurje – HRT You must be logged in to post a comment PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE 2007 - 2025 BZT MEDIA Kft. 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You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Paul Bradbury but more and more people are relocating to Croatia from the diaspora we meet them to find out how they are faring and what advice they have for others thinking of making the switch and I am a 29-year-old Croat who decided to leave Croatia right after high school as I had attended summer schools around the UK and US since I was 13 and truly enjoyed it I developed a tendency towards becoming an international citizen and started working on fulfilling this goal I fell in love with Boston and chose to attend Northeastern University where I studied political science and international affairs with minors in law and public policy and graduated with honors I received two awards: I was the senior of the year and in the top 4% among all classes at the university As I was involved in numerous extracurricular activities the national political science honorary society in the USA most significantly as a Junior Programme Officer at the Ottawa Convention Secretary (UN as an Assistant to 3 MEPs (European Parliament and as a Programme and Marketing Intern at the International Law Institute (Washington DC) I moved to the UK where I obtained a master’s degree in law with distinction I knew I wanted to establish my own business but I wanted to take some time off and enjoy Croatia first I decided to pursue another master’s degree in Zagreb There was a multi-disciplinary master’s program in political science Even though I did not necessarily love the educational system in Croatia it was my first year back in Croatia after a decade and it was indeed teeming with surprises which offers business and legal consulting services to foreigners interested in bonding with Croatia This enables me to remain part of the global community while still enjoying my homeland It certainly seemed like a smart compromise between the two conflicting desires I had: one part of me wanted to be home and work locally while the other aimed at embracing the world and being a global citizen There were no decision-making processes involved in my case as I had promised my parents that I would come back home and knew that I would keep my promise It was only a matter of time before I returned to Croatia my graduation from Bristol Law School coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and I decided that it might be a good time to settle in Croatia and start my life there anew even though I had been preparing for my return the transition was not the smoothest because I had seen and learned how things are done around the world This meant that I would sometimes become frustrated with the different systems in place in Croatia such as the bureaucratic ones that are teeming with unnecessary steps and innumerable forms and supporting documents where you always miss “one more document” (if you are lucky enough) I knew that I could make it work for myself as long as I took the right approach that would work for me after being on my own on the other side of the globe I began to appreciate both the greater safety and more casual lifestyle in Croatia which is seriously lacking in the countries where I had the opportunity to live My family and friends were undoubtedly thrilled about my return that there was a greater and wider range of opportunities abroad it was a welcoming decision because it meant that I could finally enjoy the values that are much more valued and prioritized in Croatia than in the US I was in daily contact with my friends and family which allowed me to stay informed about events and daily life in Croatia and enjoying sunny days at the beaches of the stunning Croatian coast there was not a significant discrepancy between my perceptions and the realities in Croatia I knew that there would be opportunities for me to leave Croatia and chase my dreams I also realized that going abroad again would mean that I could not settle in Croatia in the near future My wish was to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible and then use that in my home country The longer I worked on gathering that experience and knowledge the longer I would stay abroad where I did not really have a true home namely working with foreigners but staying in Croatia I could still be very much in touch with all these international insights while being where I call home staying in touch with my friends and family members in Croatia meant that I was constantly aware of happenings and developments in the country my perceptions were more or less a reflection of reality in Croatia But one can never be fully prepared when such a change occurs I was not sure whether I would be entirely happy Neither did I know whether I would question my return since numerous exciting opportunities are out there in the world waiting for me the element of surprise was something that no one could eradicate for me; I simply had to process the transition on my own and make the return the best decision ever I believe that safety and a casual lifestyle are things that Croatia can boast about While not every single corner of Croatia is completely safe and free from crime it is generally safe to walk around without too much worry Our lifestyle is known for being very relaxed and we can spend hours drinking just one cup of coffee and still have a good time This is something that is rarely seen abroad; when I was in the US I was happy when someone grabbed a coffee to go with me because there is no equivalent to the Croatian concept of “kafenisanje” even though Croatia is a relatively small country we offer a diverse landscape with mountains there is also a more critical side to the coin and there are things I do not like about Croatia Besides the never-ending impediments with Croatian bureaucracy that I mentioned earlier I believe that we are investing in our tourism industry as much as we did when we first started attracting millions of tourists from around the world I don’t necessarily mean financial investment services have not improved as much as they should have and the tourism sector as a whole seems to be relying on what Croatia already has instead of building on it and upgrading it further were more open to change and willing to “borrow” policies or approaches that have been proven to work elsewhere We also take too many things for granted and do not always appreciate things that we should be proud of a part of the problem with our stagnant tourism sector Talk to as many returnees as possible as they walked in the same shoes as you and take your time to think about the transitioning process Make sure you explore all the options and choose wisely where you want to settle in Croatia as you surely want to find yourself a perfect place where you will feel comfortable and at peace familiarize yourself with Croatia in all aspects as much as you can and take your time to find your perfect spot in Croatia chances are slim that you will struggle to find your place in Croatia or reconsider your decision to move there I am not sure what tools are in place for returnees it would certainly be useful to have some sort of centralized platform or resource run by the government (so that returnees know all the information is official) where all the useful information (especially bureaucratic) is easily accessible Potential returnees could ask questions to which they will receive a response by an official which will be visible to others who may have the same inquiry The platform could also be used as a networking tool through which potential returnees could get in touch with actual returnees are already doing half of this so the government can use your support in this.  CoreValor – www.corevalor.hr You will be hearing a little more from Klara when the TCN website relaunches shortly in a new section You can follow more stories in the Croatian Returnee Reflections series in our dedicated TCN section Would you like your returnee story – positive or negative – to be featured in this series? Contact paul@total-croatia-news.com Subject Returnee What’s it like living in Croatia, and where can you get the best survival tips? TCN CEO Paul Bradbury and TCN Editor Lauren Simmonds have teamed up to publish Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn and website in this browser for the next time I comment Politician rejects charges that he and the defendant were part of joint criminal enterprise Local officials testifying in Karadzic case deny being aware of mass killings in 1992 and 1995 Croatian journalists learn how to cover war crimes trials objectively Tel +44 (0)20 7831 1030 Tel +1 202 393 5641 IWPR is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom (charity reg no: 2744185); in the United States as a not-for-profit organisation with tax-exempt status under IRS section 501(c)(3); and as a charitable foundation in The Netherlands The opinions expressed on iwpr.net are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting Site design by IWPR. Developed by AG Prime Total Croatia News As was well established in the previous weeks and then recently confirmed by the Minister of Education school classes would return today to start the second semester of school Despite the record increase in positive cases of coronavirus especially after the Christmas and New Year celebrations and in the midst of the omicron variant the Ministry of Education confirmed that the classes would be given face-to-face throughout the country they had not received any requests from any school to teach virtual classes This exception would be given to those schools that had limited staff to teach classes from the classroom which ensures that face-to-face classes are essential to ensure quality education and for the emotional well-being of students something that surely sounds just as good for teachers and parents Čakovec high school teachers have come up with a great idea to receive their students in the best way and raise their spirits to face a new school semester The teachers of the Josip Slavenski High School in Čakovec came up with an interesting idea and delighted everyone. In an original and funny way they wished the students a happy return to school after the winter holidays Teachers from the Čakovec Gymnasium decided to cosplay some of the most famous characters in film and TV series the blonde from Harvard breaks stereotypes Peaky Blinders spread fear and trepidation… No you’re not stuck on a holiday binge! Your teachers disguised as heroes from famous films and series despite all the challenges they pose to you Welcome back to school in 2022 and we wish it will be a great year for everyone!” See below for more of the costumes and characterizations made by Čakovec high school teachers from the Josip Slavenski gymnasium: To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Croatia facebooktwitterinstagramAbout us This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. commented Ashley Colburn during her visit to the town of Cakovec in the Medjimurje Countya few days ago The popular American video blogger and producer the winner of two Emmy awards and travel specialist Ashley Colburn is currently filming a new film about the most beautiful tourist cities in Croatia she chose the town of Cakovec because it was love at first sight during her last visit The whole of Croatia is wonderful and I want to give an opportunity to as many people as I can to see this beauty by watching my film'' who became popular with a series of tourist films called WOW Colburn produced her first travel show ”WOW Croatia!” which was awarded Croatia’s Golden Pen award and won an Emmy in 2010 Following her success with the Croatia show Ashley created “TAKEOFF with Ashley Colburn” a travel series that premiered in 2010 on Wealth TV and took her to over 25 countries on six continents over two seasons.The famous video blogger and produceralso met with Stjepan Kovac the mayor of Cakovec and with Boska Ban Vlahek ''Do not take for granted wonderful things you are surrounded with The richness of culture and tradition deserve to be enjoyed every day May 06, 2025 60 Interviews May 06, 2025 297 Dubrovnik May 05, 2025 274 Times Travel May 05, 2025 554 Dubrovnik May 04, 2025 991 Croatia May 04, 2025 675 Opinion May 04, 2025 892 Croatia May 03, 2025 958 Dubrovnik May 03, 2025 1153 Croatia Sie haben erfolgreich Ihre Einwilligung in die Nutzung von Transfermarkt mit Tracking und Cookies widerrufen Sie können sich jetzt zwischen dem Contentpass-Abo und der Nutzung mit personalisierter Werbung