Harghita County has become the first region in Romania to be included on the international Green Destinations map after obtaining the Green Destinations Silver Award certification, Visit Harghita informs in a press release on Wednesday.

'A new important milestone on the road towards sustainable tourism: Harghita County has obtained the internationally recognised Green Destinations Silver Award certification, becoming the first region in Romania to be included on the international Green Destinations map. The prestigious distinction is the result of a comprehensive sustainability audit, during which Green Destinations experts assessed, among other things, destination management, the protection of cultural heritage, nature and landscape conservation, the wellbeing of local communities as well as the sustainability efforts of tourism businesses,' the source said.

As part of the audit, Harghita County achieved an average score of 7.5 points across the six areas assessed, thus meeting the requirements for the Silver Award level. The highest score, 9.2, was achieved in the area of culture and traditions.

Photo source: Visit Harghita

'The experts' assessment highlighted the strong commitment to preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage, programmes supporting local crafts and traditions as well as the protection and promotion of gastronomic heritage. The audit also particularly praised the role of traditional culture in tourism. The Myrmidone programme (the yellowish-red butterfly), which aims to identify and recognise traditional dishes as well as the food establishments that prepare them, was also mentioned as an important example in the assessment. According to the experts, preserving and making use of local heritage is one of Harghita County's greatest assets,' the press release reads.

Another notable result was achieved in the area of social wellbeing, where the county scored 8.6 points.

'The assessment highlighted positively, among other things, respect for the rights of the population, accessibility measures as well as recent efforts to involve local communities and monitor their level of satisfaction,' Visit Harghita representatives also said.

Harghita County scored 7.1 points in each of the areas of destination management, nature and landscape as well as business and communication.

According to the source, the experts highlighted the strategic role of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association (Visit Harghita), its commitment to sustainable tourism as well as initiatives supporting the sustainability of tourism businesses.

Regarding the protection of nature and the landscape, the audit specifically mentioned the management of Lake Saint Anne and the Mohos Peat Bog, the information and behavioural recommendations made available to visitors as well as initiatives contributing to forest protection and tree planting through the involvement of schools and local organisations.

'Green Destinations experts gave an overall positive assessment of Harghita County's sustainability efforts and highlighted the fact that in recent years the destination has worked consistently to make sustainability a central element of tourism development. According to the audit, the commitment to sustainable tourism is visible both among destination staff and tourism stakeholders,' the release also reads.

The source highlighted that obtaining the Green Destinations Award certification represents international recognition in the field of sustainable destination management.

'The programme assesses the sustainability performance of destinations based on the Green Destinations Standard and connects recognised regions through an international network in which participants can share their experiences and best practices,' Visit Harghita also said.

By obtaining the Silver Award certification, Harghita County will be featured on Green Destinations' international platforms and in the organisation's collection of destinations.

The distinction also offers an opportunity for Harghita County's sustainability achievements to become more visible among foreign tourists.

Harghita County Council President Biro Barna-Botond believes the certification confirms the efforts made in recent years to promote green and slow tourism while also highlighting the value of the county's cultural heritage.

'The fact that Harghita County is the first in Romania to receive this international certification demonstrates that we are at the forefront of sustainable tourism. In recent years, we have focused on green and slow tourism. It is particularly important that the group of experts gave the highest score to culture and traditions, 9.2 out of a maximum of 10 points. This demonstrates that in Harghita County the past is not an obstacle but can also be a competitive advantage. We are very pleased with this new international recognition and proud of the tourism stakeholders, our university and business partners with whom we have been able to work. I congratulate the Visit Harghita team, because our efforts have contributed to Harghita County being the first in the country to attract this attention. I hope this recognition will also provide fresh impetus to preparations for the 2027 Gastronomy Year,' Biro Barna-Botond said, according to the press release.

Visit Harghita also underscores that the certification represents a particularly important milestone ahead of 2027, when Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy.

'The Green Destinations recognition also confirms and strengthens the work carried out in recent years by Visit Harghita and tourism stakeholders across the county. International recognition of sustainability and local gastronomic heritage are mutually reinforcing values and provide a common foundation for further increasing the profile, appeal and competitiveness of Harghita County on the national and international tourism market. For Harghita County, green destination status is not merely a title but a long-term commitment: developing tourism in a way that allows us to preserve everything that makes this region unique,' the Visit Harghita release concludes. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gina Stefan; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)