A new important milestone on the path of sustainable tourism: Harghita County has been awarded the internationally recognized Green Destinations Silver certification, becoming the first region in Romania to be included on the Green Destinations global map.
This prestigious recognition is the result of a comprehensive sustainability audit, during which Green Destinations experts assessed, among other aspects, destination management, the protection of cultural heritage, nature and landscape conservation, the well-being of local communities, and the sustainability efforts of tourism businesses.
During the audit, Harghita County achieved an average score of 7.5 across the six evaluated areas, meeting the requirements for the Silver Award level. The highest score, 9.2, was achieved in the field of culture and traditions. The expert evaluation highlighted the strong commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, programs supporting local crafts and traditions, as well as the protection and promotion of gastronomic heritage. The audit also specifically praised the role of traditional culture in tourism. The Myrmidone (orange butterfly) program, which aims to identify and recognize traditional foods and the establishments that prepare them, was also cited as an important example in the evaluation. According to the experts, preserving and bringing local heritage to life is one of Harghita County’s greatest strengths.
An outstanding result was also achieved in the area of social well-being, where the county scored 8.6. The evaluation positively highlighted, among others, respect for residents’ rights, measures aimed at accessibility, and recent steps taken to involve local communities and monitor their satisfaction.
Harghita County also achieved a score of 7.1 in destination management, nature and landscape, as well as in business and communication. Experts emphasized the strategic role of the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita), the commitment to sustainable tourism, and initiatives supporting the sustainability of tourism enterprises.
Regarding the protection of nature and landscape, the audit specifically mentions the site-specific management of Lake Saint Anne and the Mohos peat bog, the information and behavioral guidelines provided to visitors, as well as initiatives involving schools and local organizations that contribute to forest conservation and tree planting.
Overall, Green Destinations experts gave a positive assessment of Harghita County’s sustainability efforts, highlighting that the destination has consistently worked in recent years to make sustainability a central element of tourism development. According to the audit, the commitment to sustainable tourism is evident among both destination staff and tourism stakeholders.
International recognition and new opportunities
The Green Destinations Award is an internationally recognized benchmark in the field of sustainable destination management. The program evaluates the sustainability performance of destinations based on the Green Destinations Standard and connects recognized regions into an international network where participants can share their experiences and best practices. By obtaining the Silver Award, Harghita County will be featured on Green Destinations’ international platforms, including the organization’s destination collection. The recognition also creates opportunities for Harghita County’s sustainability achievements to become more visible to an international tourism audience.
“The fact that Harghita County is the first in Romania to receive this international certification shows that we are at the forefront of sustainable tourism. In recent years, we have placed strong emphasis on green, slow tourism. It is particularly noteworthy that the expert group awarded the highest score, 9.2 out of 10, in the field of culture and traditions. This demonstrates that in Harghita County, the past is not a burden but can also be a competitive advantage. We are very pleased with this new international recognition and proud of the tourism stakeholders, our academic and business partners with whom we have worked together. I congratulate the Visit Harghita team, as our joint efforts have helped draw attention to Harghita County as the first in the country. I trust that this will also provide momentum for preparations for the 2027 gastronomic year,”
said Barna-Botond Bíró, President of the Harghita County Council.
The certification represents a particularly important milestone ahead of a year when Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy. The Green Destinations recognition also confirms and reinforces the work carried out in recent years by Visit Harghita and the county’s tourism stakeholders. The international recognition of sustainability and local gastronomic heritage are mutually reinforcing values that together create a strong foundation for further increasing Harghita County’s visibility, attractiveness, and competitiveness on both the domestic and international tourism markets.
For Harghita County, the green destination status is not just a title, but a long-term commitment: to develop tourism while preserving everything that makes the region unique.