Tokaj wine region’s sustainable tourism project comes third in a world competition

The Bodrogkeresztúr sustainable tourism project submitted by the organization was awarded at the Green Destinations TOP100 Award competition in Berlin.

The project is based on the protection of local white storks, centered on Fülöp, the iconic stork of Bodrogkeresztúr. The bird had lived in the settlement since 2006 and spent every winter in Hungary for twelve years. During its life, it gave birth to more than thirty chicks, and died in 2018 when it flew into a power line.

The stork’s story has created a cult following and attracts many visitors to the region. In connection with this, a running race is organized every year in connection with Philip’s Day, and an environmental education center has also been established specifically to introduce storks. In addition, tourists are invited to numerous programs focusing on storks, a stork ringing event is organized annually, and a winery has named one of its wines after Philip. Philip, the stork camp, organizes water tourism programs, in which the wildlife of the Bodrog and Bodrogzug is presented.

Júlia Nagy, head of the Hungarian representation of Green Destinations, told MTI that in two years, they managed to reach a point where Hungarian projects are competitive against competitors such as Japan, Taiwan, Slovenia, Mexico, the United States, and even Portugal.

The ITB Berlin tourism exhibition and trade fair has been awarding the most inspiring initiatives in the field of sustainable tourism in six different categories every year since 2014. In the nature and landscape category, first place went to a Mexican initiative, and second to an Australian initiative.