Bratislava received the prestigious FIJET Golden Apple award
The capital of Slovakia – Bratislava, was awarded by the prestigious Golden Apple award. The ceremony took place in the representative premises of the Mirror Hall of the Primate’s Palace. Delegation from the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET), officials from the municipality, the Ministry of Transport and Construction, and Slovakian journalists took part in the event. Plamen Starev, chairperson of the Golden Apple FIJET Committee bestowed the prize on Ludmila Farkašovská, Deputy Mayor of Bratislava. In his speech he said: “Bratislava is an attractive European capital that attracts more and more tourists from all over the world. But this is not the only reason for awarding it with the Golden Apple prize. The main argument is the care that the city hall takes to preserve the history and the architecture of the city, while it is becoming more and more modern at the same time. Currently, there is some oversaturation from the "classic" tourist centers and reorientation to "new" places. Low-cost flights actively support for discovering new destinations. Bratislava is undoubtedly on the map of the world tourist, while at the same time it is among the "new" destinations list. This gives the city great chances to
become a real hit on Europe's tourist map. It sounds a little paradoxical, but the future of the modern city depends on its glorious past: Bratislava was the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom. The coronations of 19 kings and queens took place here in St Martin's Cathedral.“
Bratislava won the Golden Apple as a city with unique combination of history, culture and experiences that are so important for the development of tourism in the destination. "This prestigious award that is being awarded since 1970 will surely help make the Bratislava brand more visible abroad. Our city will thus take its place among the famous destinations like Krakow, Ljubljana, Moscow, Antwerp and Dubrovnik, that are already the holders of the Golden Apple," said ?udmila Farkašovská.Bratislava has been experiencing a tourist boom in the recent years. All statistics show that record numbers can still be expected in the coming future. In 2016, more than 1.2 million tourists visited the city, with a year-on-year increase of over 15%. The city's most competitive advantages are its excellent logistical accessibility, a combination of history with modern infrastructure, and extensive hotel network are amplified by a vibrating city center full of cultural events.