Visit Hungary has joined as a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
Hungary is known for its cultural heritage, historic cities, and varied tourism experiences. From Budapest and its eight UNESCO World Heritage sites to Lake Balaton, wine regions, thermal baths, and national parks, the country offers a mix of cultural, natural, and regional attractions that reflect both tradition and contemporary tourism appeal.
Visit Hungary is Hungary’s national tourism marketing organization, responsible for promoting Hungary internationally as a travel destination and for developing B2B partnerships with tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, event organizers, and other industry stakeholders. Its work supports Hungary’s integration into partner portfolios while showcasing the country’s tourism offer to international markets.
Hungary and GSTC
The membership announcement follows the visit of GSTC CEO Randy Durband and Michelle Janke, GSTC Regional Director for Europe, to Budapest, Hungary, in February 2026, which focused on engaging with key tourism stakeholders, including Visit Hungary, Visit Budapest, VisitBalaton365, and MaReSz, the Hungarian Association of Event Organizers and Suppliers, who joined GSTC as members in January 2026. The engagement also builds on earlier collaboration with the country. In 2025, GSTC and MaReSz jointly announced the Hungarian version of the GSTC MICE Standard at the Expand Your World Tourism Summit Budapest 2025, reflecting growing interest in practical frameworks and shared tools to support more sustainable tourism development.
Sustainability Commitment
The Hungarian climate law (Act XLIV 2020 on Climate Protection), adopted in June 2020, commits the country to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing its GHG emissions by 40 % by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. The 2030 target was reached as early as 2023, with a 43 % reduction. The final updated National Energy and Climate Plan raises the 2030 emissions-reduction target to 50%.*
Hungary’s National Clean Development Strategy 2020-2050, adopted by the government in September 2021, is Hungary’s long-term strategy required under the EU’s Governance Regulation and the Paris Agreement. It presents two decarbonization scenarios that are aligned with the EU policy targets.
In this strategy, Prof. Dr. László Palkovics, Minister for Innovation and Technology, states that they ‘pledge to make 90% of our electricity generation carbon-free by 2030. Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we are also committed to strengthening energy security, reinforcing climate protection, and expanding economic development. Specific interventions of the Climate and Nature Protection Action Plan, adopted in 2020, also support environmental protection targets.’
Wasteless is Hungary’s national food waste prevention program, organized by the National Food Chain Safety Office. Launched in 2016 with support from the EU LIFE framework, the program combines household food waste measurement, educational activities for children, consumer awareness campaigns, the collection and promotion of good practices across the food supply chain, and collaboration with related initiatives in Hungary and elsewhere in Europe.
Visit Hungary highlights sustainability through its publication “Travel Lightly: 50 Sustainable Tourism Success Stories in Hungary”, which presents examples from across Hungary’s regions and frames them as part of the sustainable tourism ecosystem. The publication brings together 50 selected cases across seven categories, including mobility, accommodations, ecovillages, gastronomy, wineries, activities, and resources, with the aim of showcasing different approaches to sustainable tourism development. It presents these examples not only as individual initiatives but as part of a broader national picture shaped by innovation, community value, environmental stewardship, and geographic diversity across the country.
GSTC welcomes Visit Hungary
“GSTC is delighted to welcome Visit Hungary as a new member organization. We value their commitment to supporting sustainable tourism and look forward to seeing their continued efforts for the future of their coming generations,” said Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
About Visit Hungary
Visit Hungary is the national tourism organization responsible for promoting Hungary as an attractive and sustainable travel destination. Covering 93,000 km² with a population of 9.6 million, Hungary offers visitors a rich mix of natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and vibrant urban life, from over 1,500 protected areas, 22 wine regions, and 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the capital city, Budapest.
Across the country, Visit Hungary drives sustainable tourism development, fosters innovation, and creates long-term value for visitors, communities, and businesses. Through the nationwide Tourinform network, collaboration with destination management organizations (DMOs), data-driven decision-making, and international and national partnerships, Visit Hungary ensures coordinated promotion, quality services, and strategic growth of the Hungarian tourism sector.
More information here: https://visithungary.com/
About GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, the GSTC Standards, also known as the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC Destination Standard for public policy-makers and destination managers, the GSTC Hotel Standard for hotels and accommodations, the GSTC Tour Operator Standard, the GSTC MICE Standard for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and the GSTC Attraction Standard for tourist attractions such as theme parks, museums, and national parks. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Standards form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services but provides accreditation to those that do.
GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems, as well as an Association Member of The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and an Associate Member with the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
Information for media and the press: www.gstc.org/about/for-the-press/
Statements expressed in this announcement are presented for informational purposes only and should not be taken as an endorsement or recommendation by GSTC, unless clearly stated.
*Source: www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/769532/EPRS_BRI(2025)769532_EN.pdf
