“Golden Pen Award” presented in Rijeka

The 22nd edition of the “Golden Pen Award” ceremony was held on Thursday, 16 April at the Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa. The event is traditionally organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB), this year in cooperation with and with the support of the host, the Kvarner Tourist Board, which in 2026 holds the title of European Region of Gastronomy.

The “Golden Pen Award” is presented to distinguished foreign editors, journalists, travel bloggers and influencers for the best media coverage of Croatia as a tourist destination in the previous year. This year’s ceremony brought together 23 international media representatives from 14 countries.

The importance of media coverage in promoting Croatia was highlighted by Kristjan Staničić, who thanked all participants for their contribution to positioning Croatia as a high-quality and attractive tourism destination.

“It is our great pleasure to once again recognise top international journalists, bloggers and influencers who continuously contribute to strengthening Croatia’s visibility as an attractive, authentic and sustainable tourism destination. The Golden Pen Award is a symbol of gratitude to all those who, through their stories, reports and posts, bring the beauty of our country to millions of readers and followers worldwide. In times of strong global competition, credible recommendations and personal experiences are of exceptional value. The work of the awarded authors further strengthens Croatia’s image as a destination rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage and top-quality gastronomy, as well as a country that continuously invests in the quality and sustainability of tourism,” said Staničić.

All attending international journalists, travel bloggers and influencers received special recognitions, while the Grand Prix—the most prestigious award of the “Golden Pen”—was presented in five categories: best print media report, best online media report, best radio report or podcast, best television report, and best travel blogger or influencer post.

Mary Novakovich from the United Kingdom won the Grand Prix for best print media report with her article “Your ultimate guide to Croatia”, published in the prestigious The Daily Mail. In the best online media category, the Grand Prix went to Chiara Carolei from Italy. Dohyeong Park received the Grand Prix for best television report, aired on EBS 1TV. Fergal O’Keeffe won the main award in the radio/podcast category. The Grand Prix in the influencer category was awarded to Agata Kopiec and Łukasz Wróblewski.

This year, two special recognitions were also awarded for outstanding media contribution to the promotion of Croatia and Croatian tourism. One was given to the Czech publication Deník, while the other went to Bartek Kieżun.

As part of this year’s Golden Pen programme, the Croatian National Tourist Board also organised a three-day study trip. International journalists, bloggers and influencers had the opportunity to experience the cultural and historical sights and attractions of Opatija and Rijeka, with a special focus on the island of Krk, where participants discovered rich local traditions and products through tastings of olive oils, wines, prosciutto and cheeses.

Source and photo: CNTB