JEDDAH: Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili has announced the winners of the 10th Arab Tourism Media Oscar awards.

Jocelyne Elia from Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper won the award for best female travel writer in the Arab world. The results were announced on the sidelines of the Berlin International Tourism Fair on Tuesday.

"I am really happy and I would like to thank all those who voted for my tourist articles in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper," the journalist said. "Amid the rising tensions in our Arab region, there is an urgent need for Arab journalism to focus on specialized journalism and non-political articles to shed light on the positive sides of our region, by starting to support tourism in it."

In 2012, the travel and tourism section edited by Jocelyne Elia was granted an award by the Arab Center for Tourism Media (ACTM.)

Dr. Sultan Al-Yahyai, president of ACTM, said more than a million and a half people voted for nominees online, with the participation of 187 nominees from 14 Arab countries. The majority of winners were from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman, he said.

A ceremony will be held in Cairo in June to present the awards to winners in the presence of political officials, media and representatives of Arab and international tourist commissions.
 

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