Four Hungarian destinations win in the Green Destinations TOP 100 sustainable good practice competition
170 destinations, including 65 European regions, competed this year to have their recently implemented sustainability projects included in the Green Destinations TOP100 Stories list. At the awards gala held on October 15, 2024, it was revealed that out of the 45 countries that entered, only 32 countries were ultimately represented on the TOP100 list – 4 projects from Hungary were among the awardees.
The international organization Green Destinations annually collects high-level destination-level programs from all over the world that have been implemented in recent years to support the development of sustainable tourism, so that they can serve as inspiring examples for both the profession and travelers. Every year, tourist destinations have the opportunity to demonstrate to a professional jury and then to the general public how they address the challenges of environmental protection, social equity, cultural heritage preservation and economic viability in tourism. By publishing the practices selected for the list, destination management organizations receive recognition and honors for the solutions they have implemented in response to the challenges and problems related to sustainable development.
The applications were evaluated by the Green Destinations TOP 100 team, regional experts and Green Destination Partners coordinated by Green Destinations. The TOP 100 committee stressed that selection for the TOP 100 list does not mean that a given destination is sustainable, but that the destination meets the basic, minimum criteria of the Green Destinations Standard (15 criteria in the first year, 30 criteria in the second year) and implements exemplary sustainability activities at an international level.
The competition is held under the auspices of the TOP 100 Partnership, with the participation of the following organizations: Green Destinations, QualityCoast, ITB Berlin, Asian Ecotourism Network, Ecotourism Australia, DEL Turismo, Slovenia Green, Global Ecotourism Network and the Future of Tourism Coalition.
The domestic award winners were prepared for the competition by Innotime Hungary. Kft. this year, Veszprém is on the TOP100 list for the second time this year, and the projects of Sárvár, Esztergom and Tokaj-Hegyalja were also awarded.
Veszprem was among the winners for its program implemented as part of the 2023 European Capital of Culture. In the heart of the city, a neglected, 2.3-hectare industrial area stood as a stark reminder of the past. The former site of the Balaton Furniture Factory lay fallow for decades, an eyesore in the bustling city center. However, through an ambitious revitalization project linked to Veszprém’s ECoC title, the area was transformed into a bustling cultural center, called Gyárkert KultúrPark. Originally planned as a temporary project, the city extended the lease for another three years due to its huge success, but this time it had to operate without external resources, with only partial support from the city and a new business plan. This revitalization story demonstrates how innovative, sustainable approaches can transform abandoned urban areas into thriving community centers, providing a better place for both residents and tourists, all in an economically sustainable way.
Tokaj-Hegyalja The model project is related to Bodrogkeresztúr. Many people have probably heard of Fülöp, the stork who did not leave the settlement for years, even in winter – and who eventually died flying into a power line. This started the process in which the overhead lines in the settlement were replaced with underground cables, a visitor center introducing storks was built, and today there is a campsite serving active tourism and sports programs, as well as bird ringing and other nature conservation programs that draw attention to the storks in the area – and many active tourism programs have been built on all of this, which introduce the birdlife of Bodrogzug and the unique values of the settlement and the region to visitors.
Sarvar GoGreen's project is a web application available at gogreen.sarvar.hu, and its operation is extremely simple. Visitors to the interface only need to click on the “Generate Green Idea” button and they will immediately receive a GoGreen tip related to their trip. Of course, the system also offers users the opportunity to share each suggestion on social media, and they can even access extra information related to environmental protection through the related blog posts. For each tip, the application also indicates whether its implementation requires preparation or is easy to implement.
Esztergom The good practice is related to the local farmers' market, which is run by the local tourism organisation. The market not only provides a sales opportunity for local producers in the area, but also serves both local residents and tourists. As a program to support the local population, the Esztergom sightseeing minibuses were used to provide occasional transport for local elderly people to shop at the market, while thematic market programmes were organised for tourists, focusing on local raw materials, local products, the development of short supply chains and the presentation of the uniqueness of local businesses.
About Green Destinations
Green Destinations is the world's largest organization of destinations committed to sustainability, supported by more than 50 program partners worldwide. Their goal is to support destinations and tourism services in improving quality and sustainability based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and globally accepted principles. So far, more than 600 destinations and 400 companies from 60 countries have joined their programs, and the Hungarian representation is provided by Innotime Hungary Kft. For more information, visit their website: www.greendestinations.org
About the Top 100 Green Destinations competition
The Top 100 competition recognises and rewards tourism destinations worldwide that are striving for more sustainable and responsible tourism. Each year, it gives destinations the opportunity to showcase their stories, sharing how they are addressing the challenges of environmental protection, social equity, cultural heritage preservation and economic viability in tourism. For more details, visit: www.greendestinations.org/top-100-destinations/
The link to the 2024 TOP100 best sustainable destination good practices can be found here: https://www.greendestinations.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Top-100-Good-Practice-Stories.pdf
