Tata, Hungary
4th Roundtable of Wetland City Mayors
27-29 November 2025
4th Roundtable of Wetland City Mayors
The Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) remains committed to supporting the Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Wetland City Network, as its Secretariat. This year, the Wetland City Network Secretariat will assist the Wetland City of Tata, Hungary in hosting and organizing the 4th Roundtable of Wetland City Mayors scheduled on 27-29 November 2025.
The 4th roundtable will feature plenary and sectional sessions, bilateral meetings, presentations of participating Wetland Cities, a poster exhibition, and a field visit. During the field visit, participants will have the opportunity to partake in Tata City’s most significant traditional event, the Tata Wild Goose Festival. This festival is regularly organized by the Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate, the Százvölgy Nature Conservation Association, and the Hungarian Ornithological Society. This year, the annual festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary, highlighting Tata City’s cultural and environmental heritage.
As the core part of the program, mayors and officials of Wetland Cities will convene to continue discussions about planned and ongoing activities of the Wetland City Network. Other related matters will also be taken up during the meeting proper.
Venue
2 Kőkút köz, 2890 Tata, Hungary
-
+36 630 689 8000
Opening Ceremony and Plenary Session
Venue: Güntner Arena
Address: 2 Kőkút köz, Tata H-2890
Telephone: +36 630 689 8000
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1: Promotion and Branding of Wetland Cities
Venue: Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel
Address: Remeteségpuszta, Tata H-2890
Telephone: +36 34 587 620
Mobile: +36 30 747 2703
Breakout Session 2: Wetland Education
Venue: Magyary Ház
Address: 12-14 Ady Endre utca, Tata H-2890
Mobile: +36 30 691 0041
Breakout Session 3: Public–Private Partnership
Venue: Hotel Gottwald
Address: 1 Fekete út, Tata H-2890
Telephone: +36 34 586 114
Breakout Session 4: Wetlands and Climate Change
Venue: Kristály Imperial Hotel
Address: 22 Ady Endre utca, Tata H-2890
Telephone: +36 34 383 614
Mayors’ Roundtable
Venue: Town Hall of Tata
Address: 1 Kossuth tér, Tata H-2890
Mobile: +36 30 506 5937
Closing Programme and Gala Dinner
Venue: Hotel Gottwald
Address: 1 Fekete út, Tata H-2890
Telephone: + 36 34 586 114
Registration
Participants are requested to register at the information desk of the main venue (Güntner Arena Városi Sportcsarnok) to claim their name badges and welcome kits. Registration will open at 12:00 on 27 November 2025 (Thursday).
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Registered participants are requested to claim their welcome kits at the information desk of the Güntner Arena (venue for the opening ceremony and plenary session). The information desk will open at 12:00 on 27 November 2025 (Thursday).
Program of activities
Day 1
27 November 2025, Thursday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
12:00 - 13:00 |
Arrival and registration Pick-up time for guests of Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold and Ady Apartman: 11:20 – near Hotel Kristály Hotel Kiss: 11:40 – outside the hotel Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel: 11:20 – outside the hotel Hotel Gottwald: 11:30 – outside the hotel |
|
13:00 - 15:00 |
Opening Ceremony
venue: Güntner Arena Welcome speeches by:
A group photo of the participants will be taken following the opening ceremony. After the group photo has been taken, the guests will walk to the next venue. |
|
15:30 - 16:30 |
Observation of the arrival of wild geese from Calvary Hill
From Calvary Hill, guests will walk to the city centre for the next event. |
|
16:30 - |
Advent Fair on Kossuth Square (city centre)
Featuring local cultural performances and food tastings with sampling tickets Pick-up times for guests of Hotel Kiss, Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold and Ady Apartman: 19:00 – Kossuth Square bus stop Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel and Hotel Gottwald: 19:00 – Kossuth Square bus stop |
Day 2
28 November 2025, Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
Plenary session (9:00 – 12:00)
Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold and Ady Apartman: 8:00 – near Hotel Kristály Hotel Kiss: 8:15 – outside the hotel Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel: 8:00 – outside the hotel Hotel Gottwald: 8:10 – outside the hotel |
|
|
9:00 - 9:30 |
Keynote presentation Mr. Denis Landenbergue, Member of the Independent Advisory Committee for Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands |
|
9:30 - 10:00 |
Plenary presentation 1 Mr. Bertalan Balczó, Deputy State Secretary for Nature Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture: An Introduction to Nature Conservation in Hungary and the National Park System |
|
10:00 - 10:30 |
Plenary presentation 2
National Park System Mr. Tamás Rentz, Deputy State Secretary responsible for the Water Utilities Sector, Ministry of Energy, and Mr. István Láng, Director General, National Water Directorate: Flood Protection, Water Retention, and Paradigm Shifts in Water Management |
|
10:30 - 10:50 |
Break |
|
10:50 - 11:10 |
Plenary presentation 3 Dr. László Musicz, Honorary President of Komárom-Esztergom County, and Ms. Eszter Aletta Vig, Volunteer, BirdLife Hungary: The Tata Wild Goose Festival |
|
11:10 - 11:30 |
Plenary presentation 4 Mr. Bastien Coic, Director, Ramsar France Association: Strengthening the management, conservation and wise use of wetlands in France |
|
11:30 - 12:00 |
Plenary presentation 5 Dr. Matthew Simpson, Member, Scientific and Technical Review Panel, and Independent Advisory Committee for Wetland City Accreditation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and Director, 35 Percent: Assessment of the current state of cities and wetlands |
|
12:00 - 12:30 |
Bus transfer for participants to the venues of the breakout sessions
Pick-up time: 12:00 – outside Güntner Arena Ramsar 1 Wetland and Climate Change + Wetland Education – drop-off at Hotel Kristály Lunch for participants of both breakout sessions at Hotel Kristály After lunch, participants of the Wetland Education session walk to their breakout venue – Magyary Ház Ramsar 2 Public–Private Partnership – drop-off at Hotel Gottwald (lunch at the hotel) Promotion and Branding of Wetland Cities – drop-off at Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel (lunch at the hotel) |
|
12:30 - 13:30 |
Lunch at the breakout session venues |
|
Breakout Sessions
|
|
|
13:30 - 16:00 |
Breakout Session 1: Promotion and Branding of Wetland Cities
Venue: Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel Presentations by
|
|
Breakout Session 2: Wetland Education
Venue: Magyary Ház Presentations by
|
|
|
Breakout Session 3: Public–Private Partnership
Venue: Hotel Gottwald Presentations by
|
|
|
Breakout Session 4: Wetlands and Climate Change
Venue: Kristály Imperial Hotel Presentations by
|
|
|
16:00 - 16:30 |
Bus transfer for delegation leaders to the venue of the meeting proper / mayors’ roundtable (for the other participants: to their hotels)
Bus transfer: delegation leaders to the Mayors’ Roundtable venue; afterwards, other participants are dropped at their hotels. Ramsar 1 Wetland and Climate Change + Wetland Education – pick-up at 16:15 near Hotel Kristály Ramsar 2 Promotion and Branding of Wetland Cities – pick-up at 16:05 outside Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel Public–Private Partnership – pick-up at 16:15 outside Hotel Gottwald |
|
16:30 - 18:30 |
Mayors’ Roundtable
Venue: Town Hall of Tata Hotel transfers for Mayors’ Roundtable participants Ramsar 1 Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold, and Ady Apartman – pick-up at 18:40 from the Kossuth Square bus stop Ramsar 2 Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel and Hotel Gottwald – pick-up at 18:40 from the Kossuth Square bus stop Bus transfer from the hotels to the venue of the Closing Programme 19:40 Hotel Kiss 20:00 Near Hotel Kristály (serving Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold, and Ady Apartman) 20:05 Május 1 bus stop (serving Dotis Apartman) and 20:20 Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel (Minibus) |
|
20:00 - |
Closing Programme and Gala Dinner
Venue: Hotel Gottwald
Bus transfer from Hotel Gottwald to the participants’ hotels is scheduled between 22:00 and 23:00. Route: Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel – Dotis Apartman – Hotel Kiss – Hotel Kristály |
Day 3
29 November 2025, Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
25th Tata Wild Goose Festival
[Pick-up times] Ramsar 1 Hotel Kiss – 06:15 and 07:15 Bus stop opposite Hotel Kristály – 06:25 and 07:25 Ramsar 2 Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel – 06:15 and 07:15 Hotel Gottwald – 06:20 and 07:20 Május 1 bus stop (serving Dotis Apartman) – 6:30 and 7:30 |
|
|
9:00 - 9:30 |
Mr. Jay Aldous, Deputy Secretary General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:
History and Global Status of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Venue: Marquee on the lakeshore |
|
Presentations by Wetland Cities
|
|
|
9:30 - 9:45 |
Niigata, Japan:
Lakes, Rice Fields, and Swans – Branding of Wetland City NIIGATA |
|
9:45 - 10:00 |
Geneva, Switzerland:
Wetland and Water Resources Management in Geneva Canton (short film) |
|
10:00 - 10:15 |
Valdivia, Chile:
Wetland Education |
|
10:15 - 10:30 |
Mechelen, Belgium:
LIFE Wetlands4Cities Project |
|
10:30 - 10:45 |
Varzaneh, Iran:
New Paradigms in Urban Management to Achieve Sustainable Development |
|
10:45 - 11:00 |
Independent Advisory Committee – ICLEI:
Importance of Reporting on Wetland Conservation Actions into the Global Biodiversity Stocktake at CBD COP17 through CitiesWithNature |
|
12:00 - 12:15 |
Independent Advisory Committee – Islamic Republic of Iran:
Iran’s Wetland Cities and Their Characteristics |
|
Bilateral meetings between participating Wetland Cities
Catering and facilities available throughout the day at Pikantó Restaurant:
|
|
Registration for the optional guided walks will take place at the Pikantó
Restaurant, at the “Ramsar table”, from 08:00 to 14:30.
Meeting point for the walks: Pikantó Restaurant
09:00 — Fényes Nature Trail
10:00 — Cultural Walk
13:00 — Cultural Walk
14:00 — Fényes Nature Trail
14:30 — Exhibition at the Talentum School
All participants will be transported to the starting points of the walks by bus.
17:00 — Gathering at the Pikantó Restaurant for all guests wishing to return to their hotels by bus
Ramsar 1 – Hotel Kristály, Malom & Kacsa, Hotel Arnold, Ady Apartman, Hotel Kiss
Ramsar 2 – Dotis Apartman, Hotel Gottwald, Old Lake Golf Club & Hotel
Please download the general program and program for the breakout sessions here.
Field visit
As part of the field program, participants will experience the 25th Tata Wild Goose Festival, a celebration for nature lovers. From late October, tens of thousands of wild geese and other waterbirds gather on the Old Lake, which annually hosts up to 65,000 geese– a unique natural spectacle.
Tata is a special place surrounded by one of Europe’s unique bird sanctuaries and has been a Wetland City protecting its natural values since 2018. Accordingly, the city prohibits fireworks from 1 November to 28 February to maintain its Wetland City status, supporting the “Quiet New Year’s Eve in Tata” program.
The weekend event becomes a pilgrimage site for nature enthusiasts with domestic and international visitors. The morning and evening wild goose flights are unforgettable experiences, attracting about 16,000 visitors in 2024.
Besides professional programs and Wetland City presentations, optional activities such as city cultural walks or hikes on the Tata Fényes Spring Nature Trail will be available. Please find the program here.
Agenda
| No. | Item | Responsible unit | Document |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Opening and welcome message |
Incumbent Chair, Wetland City Network: Dongying, China |
|
|
2 |
Report of the incumbent Chair of the Wetland City Network |
Dongying, China |
|
|
3 |
Election of new Chair of Wetland City Network |
Incumbent Chair, Wetland City Network Members, and Wetland City Network Secretariat |
|
|
4 |
Adoption of meeting agenda |
Wetland City Network Members |
|
|
5 |
Report of the Wetland City Network Secretariat |
Wetland City Network Secretariat |
|
|
6 |
Draft guidelines for selecting host Wetland Cities |
Wetland City Network Secretariat |
|
|
7 |
Draft guidelines for hosting Roundtables of Wetland City Mayors |
Wetland City Network Secretariat |
|
|
8 |
Other matters |
Wetland City Network Members |
|
|
9 |
Date and venue of 6th and 7th Roundtable of Wetland City Mayors |
Wetland City Network Members |
|
|
10 |
Closing message |
New Chair, Wetland City Network: Tata, Hungary |
|
Please download the provisional program here.
Accommodation
Please note that accommodation must be booked individually at one of the recommended hotels. Participants are responsible for the cost of their own accommodation.
Kristály Imperial Hotel
Hungary’s oldest hotel is located in the city centre of Tata. Its historical building is one of the jewels of the town.
Web: www.hotelkristaly.eu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 2,5 km / 1,6 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 1,5 km / 1 mi
Price range: EUR 143-150
Hotel Kiss
It is a modern city hotel with excellent accessibility and various leisure services.
Web: www.hotel-kiss.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 2,7 km / 1,7 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 3 km / 1,8 mi
Price range: EUR 120-140
Hotel Gottwald
It is a family-run hotel close to the south-western shore of Tata’s Old Lake and surrounded by a forest area.
Web: www.gottwald.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 3 km / 1,9 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: by road 6,5 km – 4 mi / on foot 2,2 km – 1,4 mi
Price range: EUR 110-140
Old Lake Golf Hotel
The hotel can be found on the former hunting estate of the Esterházy noble family and surrounded by an arboretum-like area.
Web: www.oldlakegolfhotel.com
Distance from the Conference Hall: 4,6 km / 2,9 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: by road 8,1 km – 5 mi / on foot 3,4 km – 2,1 mi
Price range: EUR 80-110
Öreg-tó Hotel
The hotel is situated just 2 minutes away from the south-eastern shores of Tata’s Old Lake and spreads across a 2-hectare-area with ancient trees.
Web: www.oregtohotel.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 4,5 km / 2,8 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: by road 1,6 km – 1 mi / on foot 1 km – 0,6 mi
Price range: EUR 70-90
Penta Lux Hotel & Apartman
The hotel is located in the resort area of the town, just a short distance away from Tata’s Old Lake.
Web: www.pentalux.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 4,5 km / 2,8 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: by road 1,6 km – 1 mi / on foot 1 km – 0,6 mi
Price range: EUR 60-80
Sirály Panzió Tópart
This pension can be found just on the shores of Tata’s Old Lake; therefore, it also has rooms with a lake view.
Web: www.siralypanziotopart.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 3,8 km / 2,4 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: on foot 0,6 km – 0,1 mi
Price range: EUR 50-70
Casablanca Panzió
This pension with oriental interior is located just on the shores of Tata’s Old Lake; therefore, it also has rooms with a lake view.
Web: www.toparti-hotel.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 3,8 km / 2,4 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: on foot 0,6 km – 0,1 mi
Price range: EUR 50-70
Malom & Kacsa
The pension – currently under construction, but will be opened soon – is part of a touristic unit made up of 3 former watermills on the shores of Tata’s Old Lake.
Web: www.malomeskacsa.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 2,4 km / 1,5 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: by road 1,8 km – 1,1 mi / on foot 1,5 km – 0,1 mi
Price range: –
Platán Udvarház / Platán Utca
The guesthouse is located on the shores of Tata’s Old Lake, between Tata Castle and Esterházy Palace, in the shadow of a 230-year-old plane tree.
Web: www.platantata.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 1,5 km / 0,9 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 5,4 km / 3,2 mi
Price range: EUR 120-140
Mushrooms Malomszállás
The guesthouse with 3 apartments is recently renovated in a former watermill in the centre of Tata.
Web: www.malomszallastata.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 2,1 km / 1,3 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 2,0 km / 1,2 mi
Price range: EUR 80-90
Ady54 Apartman
The guesthouse is located in the heart of the city. Each of its unique apartments is homely and modern.
Web: www.ady54.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 2,5 km / 1,3 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 1,4 km / 0,9 mi
Price range: EUR 100-150
Dotis Apartmanház
The guesthouse is in the city centre. Thanks to its location, the most visited sights of Tata can be reached on foot in 5-10 minutes.
Web: www.dotisapartman.hu
Distance from the Conference Hall: 1,0 km / 0,6 mi
Distance from the Wild Goose Festival: 3,8 km / 2,4 mi
Price range: EUR 60-80
In case of further questions, please contact the Tata and Environs Tourism Association: tdmtata@visittata.com
Travel
Transfer services will be provided for participants. Transfers from the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport to Tata will be available at fixed times and must be booked in advance. Transfer times:
- Wednesday, 26 November 2025, afternoon
- Thursday, 27 November 2025, morning
For those arriving individually by train, transfers from “Tata” railway station to the accommodation will also be available. If traveling by private car or rental, please note that Tata is approximately one hour from Budapest and about one and a half hours from Vienna, accessible via the M1 motorway (E60 E75). Please be aware that motorway maintenance works may increase travel time. Local transportation of participants without transfer reservations will be at the participants’ own expense.
Exhibition
At the main venue, each Wetland City will be represented by standardized posters. The exhibition aims to showcase the key features, natural values, points of interest, and images of the Wetland Cities.
In addition to the Wetland City posters, participants can view:
- a nature photography exhibition highlighting Hungarian wildlife,
- an exhibition on Hungarian national parks,
- a special art program during the conference: “Dance of Birds over the Autumn Lake” featuring visual arts and calligraphy exhibitions and a linocut workshop with students from the Korean Cultural Center (Budapest), Gimcheon Arts High School (South Korea), and Talentum School (Tata).
Other information
Dress code
Day 1 and 2: formal attire
Day 3: casual attire
Internet access
Free access to the internet via Wi-Fi is available inside the meeting venues.
Interpretation services
Simultaneous interpretation services are available in English, Hungarian, Chinese and Korean during the opening ceremony, plenary session, breakout sessions, mayors’ roundtable and closing program. Headsets will be available on tables in front of the meeting rooms. Participants are requested to return the headsets when leaving the meeting rooms.
Weather
Season: Winter
Temperature: -1 to 5 degrees Celsius
Lightly rainy and windy
Time zone
Time zone in Tata, Hungary (GMT+1)
Currency
The currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint (HUF).
Electricity
Standard voltage: 230V at 50Hz
Electrical plug: Type C and Type F
Local transportation
Participants can reach Amiens via local transportation routes from different ports of entry. More detailed guidance is available for download.
