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
Kőkút köz 2, 2890 Tata, Hungary
-
-
–
Section meetings
(to be confirmed)
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
Applications for the event should be submitted via the Wetland City Network Secretariat through this registration link: here or offline registration form by the deadline of
26 September 2025.
Registered participants are requested to claim their name badges and welcome kits at the information desk of the main venue (Güntner Arena Városi Sportcsarnok). The information desk will open at 12:00 on 27 November 2025 (Thursday).
Program of activities
Day 1
27 November 2025, Thursday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
until 12:00 |
Arrival of participants (check-in at accommodation facilities) |
|
12:00 - 12:30 |
Registration of participants at event venue |
|
13:00 - 15:00 |
Opening program
venue: Güntner Arena
|
|
15:30 - 16:30 |
For those interested, participants may observe wild geese roosting on Kálvária Hill. |
|
16:30 - 18:00 |
Dinner at the Advent Market in Kossuth Square, featuring local dishes, tastings, and wine sampling. Local cultural performances on stage. |
Day 2
28 November 2025, Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
9:00 - 10:00 |
Exhibition viewing |
|
10:00 - 12:00 |
Plenary session venue: Güntner Arena
|
|
12:00 - 12:30 |
Transfer to section meeting venues (buses will be available for participants from each section meeting venue) |
|
12:30 - 13:30 |
Lunch at section meeting venues |
|
13:30 - 16:30 |
Section meetings Venue: (to be confirmed)
|
|
16:30 - 17:00 |
Transfer to venue of meeting proper |
|
17:00 - 18:30 |
Meeting proper venue: (to be confirmed) |
|
18:30 - 19:00 |
Transfer to venue of closing program and gala dinner |
|
19:00 - 20:30 |
Closing program and gala dinner venue: Güntner Arena
|
Day 3
29 November 2025, Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
7:00 - 18:00 |
25th Tata Wild Goose Festival 1. Field programs at the festival venue venue: Lakeshore Additional options: guided tour on the nature trail at Fényes Springs, and cultural walks exploring Tata’s built heritage 2. Presentations by Wetland Cities (English language presentations only) venue: outdoor tent • morning and afternoon sessions (90 minutes per session) • Wetland Cities and IAC Members will deliver presentations (15 minutes per presentation) 3. Bilateral meetings between Wetland Cities venue: Pikanto • opportunity to forge partnerships • arrangements can be made through the Wetland City Network Secretariat 4. Catering and facilities (available throughout the day) venue: Pikanto • buffet meals, food and beverages • heated areas for comfort • venue for small group meetings |
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.
Agenda
| No. | Item | Responsible person/s | Requested action | 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 next meeting |
Wetland City Network Members |
|
|
|
10 |
Closing message |
New Chair, Wetland City Network: Tata, Hungary |
|
|
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. Accommodation reservations can be made until 30 September 2025. Please refer to “Wetland City 2025” when booking to facilitate identification.
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. Please indicate if you wish to use this service during registration. 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, Korean and French inside the plenary session room, section meeting rooms and room for the mayors’ roundtable. 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: Fall
Temperature: 6 to 8 degrees Celsius
Partly sunny and cloudy
Time zone
Time zone in Tata, Hungary (GMT+2)
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.
