UBJET: 55 YEARS ALREADY!

Founded in 1951, the UBJET, the Union of Belgian Journalists and Travel Writers, is the oldest and largest association of its kind in Belgium.
Nomen est omen: the name 'UBJET' in itself summarises the major essence of our association. In the first place, it is a 'union', i.e. it comprises in a harmonious way a number of very diverse people and disciplines: a union of Belgians from North and South; a union of 'Tourism Journalists and Travel Writers', whether they use words, pictures or sounds.

Our association is no literary circle of professionals', who sometimes overestimate themselves. However, we equally welcome colleagues who we call real 'amateurs', in the noble sense of the word.
We often notice that some of them have an outstanding record.
What 'professional' can boast over thirty tourist books and hundreds of lectures, like one of our so-called 'amateurs'?
You can tell a tree from its fruit…

When UBJET was founded fifty years ago now, the following basic principles were adopted.

The objectives of our Union are:

• to unite the Belgian writers, journalists and lecturers who usually deal with tourism in all its forms;
• to facilitate their trips related to their publications;
• to promote their publications, both in Belgium and abroad;
• to enable them to contact similar associations in other countries.

The Union has never interfered, and never will, with political, philosophical or religious issues.

This creed is still valid and it continues to attract new and young colleagues, who thrive in our association's friendly atmosphere.
By providing all this, UBJET has remained Belgium's largest association of its kind.

Walter ROGGEMAN
President