At the Trumbetaš Gallery of the People's Open University in Velika Gorica, an exhibition showcasing the top photographic works from the "Photo Zagreb County" award competition, organised by the Zagreb County Tourist Board, was officially unveiled. The exhibition's opening attracted many visitors, including the competition winners, members of the expert jury, media representatives, and stakeholders from the tourism sector.
In the recent "Photo Zagreb County" award competition, the expert jury was challenged to select the finest entries from a pool of exceptional submissions. The coveted first place was awarded to Danijel Bošnjak, with Iva Šimunec securing the second place and Tomislav Krizmanić clinching the third place.
"We aim to capture the emotions and experiences of visitors as they explore our county through these photographs. Our vision is to showcase the events, the individuals involved, and the beauty of our region. We consistently strive to engage local stakeholders in promoting the destination. In line with this, we have chosen to exclusively offer tourist products from the Zagreb County area as prizes, such as lunches, dinners, or tastings of local specialities, in collaboration with the winners," stated Ivana Alilović, the director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board.
In addition to the recipients selected by the panel of judges, notable accolades were presented to honorees as determined by their supporters on various social media platforms. Josipa Humski emerged as the victor on Instagram, Ines Medenjak captured the audience's admiration on Facebook, and Dominik Papić was bestowed with a special commendation.
The town of Velika Gorica serves as the focal point of Zagreb County, an area renowned for its natural splendor, cultural heritage, and traditions. The inauguration of this exhibition commemorates precisely these attributes. Thanks to the Zagreb County Tourist Board's initiative, we can witness the vivacity of our landscapes, wooden architecture, and hidden gems through the lenses of both amateurs and professionals. This award competition exemplifies how art can effectively contribute to the promotion of a destination, and through photography, we gain fresh insights into the beauty encompassing our region. Mayor Krešimir Ačkar of Velika Gorica remarked, "Congratulations to all the competition winners," expressing his sentiments on the exhibition's opening.
During the evening, the cultural club Gradići treated attendees to musical performances, while award recipients were honoured in various categories. Slavija Jačan Obratov, the director of the Department for Tourist Board System and Product Development of the Croatian Tourist Board, served as one of the jury members. During the event, she underscored the significance of visual media in tourism promotion, stating that images are more impactful than words and serve as an excellent means to showcase a destination. She highlighted that the competition effectively integrates art, tourism, and the local community, presenting an innovative approach to promoting Zagreb County as a tourist destination. Such initiatives contribute to creating authentic tourism products that involve the local community and enhance the region's reputation as an appealing boutique destination.
The exhibition will be open to the public in the coming weeks, allowing visitors to enjoy the unique scenes of Zagreb County recorded through the lenses of talented amateur photographers.