More than 30 journalists from Europe and the US, whom the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) has presented with the Zlatna Penkala award for writing about Croatia and its tourism, have been visiting eastern Croatia's Slavonia and Baranja region this week.

For the 14th year running, the HTZ awarded the foreign journalists for the best reports on Croatia as a tourist destination.

The journalists attended the award ceremony and visited the towns of Osijek, Dalj, Erdut and Djakovo as well as the Kopacki Rit Nature Park, accompanied by representatives of the HTZ, Croatia’s Tourism Ministry and HTZ’s offices abroad.

The Grand Prix award for best feature in print media, in electronic media, and for best blog was presented to Christine Hinkofer and Beate Winterer from Germany’s Münchner Merkur, Mojca Mavec and Jan Vasiljevic from Slovenia’s public broadcaster, and blogger Nina Ragusa from the UK.

HTZ director Kristjan Stanicic said Croatia was strongly positioned on foreign markets as an attractive destination for everyone. “Our goal is to keep this position, in which quality, professional and objective features and reviews by foreign journalists and bloggers do help. We award them to thank them and draw their attention to the importance of media reports which, for many tourists, are also a source of information in choosing their vacation.”

He said Slavonia and Baranja were chosen for this year’s award ceremony in order to increase the foreign promotion of continental tourism, which has great potential for year-round tourism.