Harghita County among the world’s leading destinations: the region included in the world’s top 100 sustainable tourism stories

Harghita County has received another prestigious international recognition: its tourism development programme, built around gastronomic heritage, local products and living community traditions, has been included in Green Destinations’ 2026 TOP 100 Stories selection. The recognition is part of an international initiative showcasing the world’s best practices in sustainable tourism. The certificate associated with the award was accepted by Júlia Nagy, Managing Director of Innotime Hungary Ltd., at the Green Destinations international conference in Kranj, Slovenia, at the request of the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita).

 

Harghita County was included in the international TOP 100 selection with the story “Tasting Szekler Heritage: How Harghita County Turns Living Traditions into Responsible Tourism”, in the Culture & Heritage category. The central idea of the submission is that Szekler gastronomy, local products, traditional folk costumes, handicrafts and community celebrations are not merely tourist attractions, but living cultural values that shape everyday life in the region.

 

The good practice presented highlights how these values can be transformed into tourism experiences while preserving their authenticity, strengthening the identity of local communities and ensuring that the economic benefits generated by tourism also reach local producers, craftspeople and businesses. One of the project’s key messages is that preserving cultural heritage and developing tourism are not conflicting goals: with the right cooperation, they can reinforce one another.

 

The submission showcased Harghita County’s efforts to preserve its heritage through a range of concrete programmes and results. Particular emphasis was placed on the Szekler Product trademark system, established by the Harghita County Council in 2009 to support market access, visibility and the preservation of the value of traditional local food and handicraft products. According to data published in 2024, the trademark had been awarded to approximately 1,500 products from 197 producers.

 

Another defining element of the story is the use of gastronomic traditions in tourism. Local ingredients, family recipes, traditional cooking techniques and cooperation among producers offer experiences that go beyond a meal: they provide insight into the region’s history, land use and community life. The international significance of this gastronomic heritage is further underlined by the fact that Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy in 2027, awarded by the international professional organisation IGCAT.

 

However, the submission was not limited to gastronomy. It also featured The Day of the Thousand Szekler Girls, one of the most important community celebrations of Szekler folk costume, folk music and traditional dance. According to press reports, more than 5,000 people wore traditional folk costume at the 2025 event. The celebration demonstrates that traditions are not simply memories of the past; they can still bring together people across generations.

 

The programme also highlighted the role of Visit Harghita’s digital tourism platform, which makes the county’s gastronomic, cultural and natural attractions accessible in three languages and helps visitors discover smaller settlements, local service providers and community programmes.

Green Destinations TOP 100 Stories is one of the best-known international good-practice competitions in sustainable tourism and has been organised since 2014. Its aim is not simply to select the most popular tourist destinations, but to showcase stories that offer practical solutions to tourism’s environmental, social and cultural challenges.

 

During the selection process, experts examine the problem addressed by each initiative, the concrete measures implemented, how local communities are involved, and the results and long-term impacts achieved. Inclusion in the TOP 100 is therefore more than a tourism marketing accolade. It brings international visibility, professional credibility and the opportunity for the practice presented to become a model for other destinations to follow.

 

The selected stories may also be featured on international communication channels and may have the opportunity to compete for further Green Destinations Story Awards. It is important to note that inclusion in the TOP 100 recognises a specific sustainable tourism good practice; it does not certify the destination’s overall sustainability performance.

 

Inclusion in the TOP 100 marks another milestone in a longer process of professional development. In September 2026, Harghita County received the Green Destinations Silver Award, becoming the first region in Romania to receive this recognition. During the international sustainability audit, the county achieved its highest score in the area of culture and traditions, with a rating of 9.2 points. The TOP 100 submission was therefore built on a strength that had already been recognised internationally: the preservation of cultural heritage, the role of local communities and the responsible tourism experiences that can be developed around them.

 

The submission was prepared by Innotime Hungary Ltd. on behalf of the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita). The work drew on research findings, development strategies, local good practices and the experience of tourism stakeholders gathered during the county’s preparation for sustainable tourism.

 

At the request of Visit Harghita, the certificate associated with the international recognition was accepted by Júlia Nagy, Managing Director of Innotime Hungary Ltd. and the professional lead behind the TOP 100 submission, at the Green Destinations Global Conference held in the Kranj area of Slovenia from 27 to 29 October 2026.

 

The most important lesson from Harghita County’s story is that the future of traditions is ensured not only by preserving them, but by creating the conditions for them to continue living. When the work of a local producer, a recipe passed down through generations or a community celebration gains new meaning through tourism, the result can be not only a more attractive destination, but also a stronger local community.

 

The TOP 100 recognition sends a clear message: local heritage is valuable not only to Harghita County, but also offers an example for sustainable tourism around the world.