Formed in Paris in December 1954, by the French and Belgian National Associations, this International Federation is known worldwide by its acronym FIJET. It acknowledges three official languages and is known in English as World Federation of Journalists and Travel Writers and in Spanish as Federación Mundial de Periodistas y Escritores de Turismo.

FIJET has two kinds of members: the National Associations (with a minimum of 10 members) and individual Members. At present, FIJET counts for more than 500 members in over 30 countries on five continents.

Members are all screened professionals actively engaged in journalism as publishers of trade publications, editors, staff writers of consumer and trade publications, book authors and freelancers in print and broadcast media. As FIJET members, they possess a dedication to objectivity in their work and to constant endeavour to raise the intellec­tual level of world tourism and the physical level of destinations and attractions.

At the international level, special activities, personal relations, training and education, exchange of experience and knowledge are carried on. FIJET takes no position on po­litical matters and is totally free and independent of financial or any other obligations.

Each year FIJET conducts its World Congress in a different country, highlighting a subject or problem of international Interest in travel and tourism. Recent World Congresses were in Colombia, Austria, Russia, Spain, Argentina, Croatia, Crimea (Ukraine), Tunisia, Turkey and the USA.

In addition, Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings are conducted in destinations around the world.

In 2001, FIJET implemented its own website www.fijet.net

FIJET presents an award for excellence, ‘POMME D’OR or THE GOLDEN APPLE’, to an organisation, country, town or person to reward efforts in raising the level of tourism. The Golden Apple has gained recognition over the years and always has a list of candi­dates vying for it. In June 2000 the award was presented to the Mol Lake District In Bel­gium. Also the city of Antwerp in 1993 and Arthur Haulot, former General Commissioner of Tourism in Belgium, in1973, received this award.

FIJET maintains an International FIJET Centre In Prague, Czech Republic. The archives of FIJET, a valuable reference base for those engaged in travel research, are kept by BFTP in the centre in Mol (Belgium).

A special program of on-the-job training is conducted for young journalists and appren­tices, with travel research visits to designated countries.

Since 1964, FIJET has enjoyed Consultative Status in UNESCO as a Non-Governmental Organisation. FIJET is also affiliated to the WTO and UFTAA.

FIJET is proud of the high position and respect it has achieved in contributing to mutual understanding among the peoples of the world. FIJET appeals to every responsible organization and to private, public and national authorities to support the realisation of its aims in strengthening the community of mankind. The aims are:

• The widest expansion of tourism in the world as a powerful factor in reconciliation between peoples

• Defence of the right of all people to travel vacations

• Conservation of human, natural, cultural and historical resources with due concern over their ecology

• Preservation and popularisation of those monuments, which by their historical, architectural or cultural character form a common inheritance of mankind

• Dissemination of information about nations and their history, habits, traditions and culture

• Development of new forms of tourism and new destinations to provide holidays at all social levels of the populations

• Encouragement among the tourism organisations of the world and the international ex­change of experiences, making certain not to discredit the profession by members’ behavior or their writings

Executive committee of Fijet:

President:
Tijani HADDAD, Ariana, Tunisia

Vice-president:
Miguel Garcia BRERA, Madrid, Spain

Secretary general:
Jacques CAMPE, Fontaine St-Martin, France

Treasurer:
Bernadette Bonnetain-Roux, Ecully, France

Account controller:
Didier VAN HOUTS, Sint-Job-in-‘t-Goor, Belgium

Members:
Salah ATTIA, Cairo, Egypt
Eytan SHABL, Ramat Gan, Israel
Tina CUBRILO, Zagreb, Croatia
Jim THOMPSON, Los Angeles, USA
Drago BLUC, Karlov, Slovenija
Nikolai MEINERT, Helsinki, Finland