Romania is in The Top Worldwide Tourism

Romania is in The Top Worldwide Tourism

Ion Zahiu

The prestigious Golden Apple trophy is awarded annually by the International Federation of Journalists and Writers of Tourism (FIJET) and is often compared to the famous Oscars in cinematography.
The distinction is given each year to a tourist attraction or destination or to a person, being a symbol of recognition of the efforts made to promote and develop tourism.
Romania has been rewarded with six golden apples. The trophy was won by: Bucovina (a Northern region), The Danube Delta, Marginimea Sibiului (a group of villages near the city of Sibiu), Blue Air, Oradea City and Gorj County.
Besides the trophies awarded by FIJET, which encompasses 800 personalities from all over the world, Romania has received other appreciations and distinctions that add to this performance.
The first recognition for Romanian tourism came in 1975 for the extraordinary exterior murals of the monasteries in the Northern region of Moldova.
Besides the Golden Apple, the monasteries have also received an exceptional global appreciation by making their way into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage.
The Danube Delta has also received the FIJET trophy in 2009, after having been awarded the title of “Biosphere Reserve” in 1990. Also, the I.F.N. (International Friends of Nature) had already awarded it with the prize of “The Landscape of the Year 2007-2008”.

Another Golden Apple landed in the beautiful Marginimea Sibiului, about which the famous Forbes Magazine says it is „bucolic, an idyllic place.” and „It’s a gorgeous, preserved way of life.””. The city of Sibiu was the European Cultural Capital in 2007”.
A special contribution to the development of the Romanian tourism was also provided by the airline company Blue Air, which carried an impressive number of foreign tourists into the country. The company is the first in the world to receive such an appreciation and a Golden Apple.
The hills and mountains of Gorj have been rewarded with another Golden Apple in 2014 for the monumental ensemble of the city Targu Jiu, the monasteries in the north of the county and the Transalpina road, which crosses the spectacular mountainous area of ​​the Parang Range.
The unique in the world  monumental outdoor ensemble in the city park (the only one in the world) of the great Romanian world-class sculptor Constantin Brancusi is located in the city park and  includes: Poarta sarutului, Masa tacerii, Aleea scaunelor de pe Calea Eroilor si Coloana fara sfarsit (The Gate of the Kiss, The Table of Silence, The Alley of the Chairs from the Heroes Road and the Endless Column). The beautiful monasteries that received the recognition of FIJET are: Tismana, Polovragi, Crasna and Lainici.
The city of Oradea, with its Art Nouveau Secession architecture and Felix Resort are the winners of 2019.
Romania has the ability to always surprise, this itself being included in a slogan of the Ministry of Tourism: “Simply surprising”.

FIJET Appreciation

Miguel Angel Brera, Honorary President of FIJET and professor of tourism at the University of Madrid said: “Romania was a wonder in 1975 and it still is. It was a joyous country; it had – as it does now – a very diversified, picturesque and monumental landscape, full of cultural and historical flavor”.
“Romania is truly one of the great tourist destinations in the world” remarks Jim Thompson (USA), member of the Executive Committee of FIJET and Director of Congresses and Events.
Moreover, FIJET President Tijani Haddad said: “We have often had the opportunity to visit Romania and, besides hospitality we have always found here an enormous touristic potential, that is a future that can be bright”.

And the Recognition Continues

Experts from the world’s prestigious tourism recommendations publication “Lonely Planet”, chose two tourist destinations for Europe in 2015: Romania and Portugal.
French TV channel France 5 in the review “Romania, a smile coming from the East” promotes the capital city Bucharest, the city of Brasov, the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea coast.
The famous “Financial Times” writes in an article that: “Switzerland is like a garden compared to Romania’s Forests”, and Paul Lister (Great Britain), founder of “European Nature Trust” makes a statement to be taken into account and immediately put into practice: “It would be good for Romania to follow the example of Costa Rica, where one third of the forests are protected by law. Ecotourism is the future”.
Prince Charles of Great Britain himself, conquered by the country’s beauty, feels the need to say “Keep your traditions and … forests!”.
A remarkable documentary series were made by the well-known producer Charlie Ottley: Wild Carpathia, Flavors of Romania and Wild Danube.
Also, Matt Kepnes, an American writer, told USA Today that “Romania is particularly beautiful … is a hidden treasure that has a lot to offer: a fascinating medieval history, religious tourist objectives but also quiet resorts on the Black Sea coast and … cities very beautiful near the sea”.
About the Carpathian Garden Pope Paul II and Pope Francisc said that: „Romania is the Garden of the Virgin Mary”
Thus, Romania has become an international brand in tourism. But performance is also measured financially and in order  to attract more tourists, Romania, has to make major improvements, especially in its highway system.

The Trophy

It is created by an American sculptor. Marble is cut out of a career in Mexico, then the artist grinds and polishes the apples. The gold that is inside the apples floats in a special liquid that has the property of maintaining its gloss and color.
By winning six Golden Apples, Romania is at the top of the world ranking, alongside Spain, Belgium, Croatia and Russia. Spain and Belgium have a remarkable tradition in tourism, while Croatia and Russia have an excellent development.
The potential of Romanian tourism is a certainty.

The legend also says that whoever tasted the apple became immortal.
Let us thus start the journey!

To be continued…

The photography „The Land of Fairy Tales” received a merit winner from the National Geographic Traveler magazine. By Eduard Gutescu.
The photos: Cosmin Zichil, Stianni, Florin Marin, Catalin Chiriloi, Alexandru Paraschiv, Ion Zahiu, CNIPT (Romanian National tourism information and promotion center), Alpin.org and Romanian Ministry of Tourism.

Testimoniale

Steven V. Bonica, Tribuna Romaneasca: “Vă mulțumesc pentru mesajul dvs. și materialul trimis. Trebuie să recunosc că pe lângă faptul că sunt încântat de imagini și de articol, am fost de asemenea plăcut impresionat de modestia dvs. în abordare, în finalul mesajului.
Noi ne bucurăm când mai avem șansa să primim materiale ca al dvs. și ne dau o gură de oxigen în momente în care creativitatea pare să fie paralizată sau cel puțin amorțită de prea multele
Vă rămân recunoscător pentru amabilitatea și profesionalismul dvs.
Cu prietenie! Steven V. Bonica, Romanian Tribune Media