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The ICRT India and the Subcontinent awards are regional awards and a part of the Global Responsible Tourism Awards. All gold winners of the regional awards for India and the Subcontinent, directly enter the global Responsible Tourism Awards.
The ICRT India Foundation is thrilled to announce the list of those who have been recognised for their exemplary work in Responsible Tourism in this year’s edition of ICRT India Awards 2024
Gold - Rajasthan Studio Rajasthan
https://rajasthanstudio.com/
Rajasthan Studio curates art experiences with master artisans in Rajasthan, contributing to the preservation of the state's local traditional crafts and culture. Their objective is to enable travellers to experience, understand and value the local culture of the place they are visiting and to meet local people to learn about the traditions, stories and local practices. Travellers can engage with master artists at home, meet their families, see the efforts and process behind making local handicrafts and create a personalised souvenir for themselves co-created with the crafter. The traveller can connect with the artist in an authentic Indian style. Tourists can understand the history and traditional practices of a specific art form, making a significant contribution to promoting, preserving and propagating art heritage.
Rajasthan Studio has created a harmonious ecosystem where travellers and local artists mutually benefit. Travellers have an immersive cultural experience, while the artists enjoy a business opportunity that enriches the travel experience and benefits Rajasthan’s creative economy. The judges think that this is a highly replicable approach.
Gold – Finding Shiva Uttarakhand
www.findingshiva.in
Finding Shiva was established by young entrepreneurs in Nabhi in the Vyas Valley at 11,000 ft at the India, China, Nepal border in the upper Himalayas. There are thirty-five homestays in a community with strong cultural traditions; the villagers feel pride in showcasing their traditional culture. Visitors are served local cuisine, and festivals are “celebrated with great fanfare”, creating opportunities for visitors to experience local culture. The homestays are primarily run by women, with the entire community involved in providing services. Visitors are offered opportunities to trek, hike or walk with guides to gain an understanding of local culture, agriculture and architecture. The judges were delighted to hear that this approach to community-based tourism is already being replicated in adjacent villages like Kutti & Gunji. Finding Shiva increased local pride, reversed outmigration by young people, and created many micro-enterprise opportunities for villagers.
Silver – Ali Warner Travel UK
www.aliwarnerphotography.com
Ali Warner Travel provides tailor-made holidays offering an insider’s view of hidden India, designed for those seeking new experiences and something more than just a trip away. Ali Warner describes herself as a “pro photographer, textile lover and keen cook sharing her 30 years’ experience in India.” Ali Warner Travel provides high-end, curated tours for small groups, offering slow, detailed tourism that enables guests to connect with the people they meet in the communities they visit. Being respectful of the communities they visit and well-briefed on etiquette and environmental and cultural guidance is critical to facilitating engagement. Ali Warner Travel is a UK-based outbound operator offering experiences in Gujarat, Kerala, and Rajasthan and expensing to Ladakh, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. Guests are enabled to engage with local communities through workshops, activities, and local walking tours. As Ali Warner Travel reminds us, “Respectful interaction with local artisanal communities where hosts tell stories in their own words and share expertise deepens these cultural experiences and also generates income.
Ali Warner takes responsibility seriously, she writes: “I believe responsible tour directing has a vital role in the development of global tourism. I am acutely aware that my tour directing and vision has a disproportionate influence on the guests I take and on the communities we visit.” The judges hope that other source market operators will take responsibility for the impacts of the way they organise and market tours.
Gold – Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka
www.jetwinghotels.com
Jetwing hotels currently secures 60% of their energy from renewable sources, from biomass, solar PV, solar thermal, and biogas. Their first system was commissioned at Jetwing Blue in 2010 – a 20 kW roof-mount system with a battery backup. In 2023, Jetwing Hotels generated 1069 MWh of solar energy across its properties, equivalent to providing power for about 13,490 households and mitigating the release of 608 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and PV is currently being delivered across a further twelve properties. They have shortened their supply chain, reducing transport emissions, and are now sourcing 40% of their inputs locally to their hotels. They have reduced the operational cooling needs of their hotels through open architecture natural ventilation and building innovation with high roofs and double glazing, and now, they have four vapor absorption chillers operating that utilise steam generated by biomass boilers. This in innovation and investment is based on a sound business case: “Our commitment to sustainability is driven by the desire to enhance our brand’s reputation and operational efficiency. By reducing energy costs and promoting a culture of environmental responsibility among our staff and guests, we ensure that our business practices are not only beneficial or the environment but also economically viable.” They encourage others to adopt sustainability “By sharing our journey of sustainability, what we have learnt and achieved, we aim to inspire change and create a butterfly effect.” The judges wish them well in their endeavours and hope that others will follow.
Silver – Six Senses Vana Uttarakhand
https://www.sixsenses.com/en/resorts/vana
Six Senses Vana was one of the first hospitality businesses in India to be LEED Platinum certified by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2015. Seventy percent of the forest surrounding the retreat is intact and continues to be maintained. Six Senses uses LED lighting, an Inncom guest room control system, a BMS control system, motion sensors, and heat pumps, solar PV for electricity and solar water heating. They extensively use heat pumps and no longer use diesel. They have also installed a pro-nature lighting system, eliminating the risk of disturbing the flora and fauna of the surrounding ecological system. The judges were impressed by the range of technology being deployed to reduce carbon emissions and sustained progress over the decade.
One To Watch – Streekon Maharashtra
https://www.instagram.com/streekon_india/
Streekon is a social enterprise led by women based in Sindhudurg district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It offers responsible tourism experiences in partnership with local self-help groups. “Streekon was initiated to mainstream climate justice in the tourism sector, starting with the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Climate change impact, accelerated by anthropogenic pressures like unplanned and extractive tourism, is devastating the biodiversity-rich Konkan region. Women, especially those from marginal communities, who are more dependent on natural resources for their reproductive and productive responsibilities, bear the brunt of environmental degradation.” The judges were delighted to see their focus on sustainable consumption and production and hope to see a further application in a year or town when the impact of this approach can be reported
Gold – Beypore Integrated Responsible Tourism Development Kerala
www.keralatourism.org/rt
The Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society (KRTMS) is able to draw on its accumultated experience of implementing Responsible Tourism back to 2008. Beypore RT Destination includes Beypore beach, harbour, and in the surrounding areas, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, the estuary including the coastal area of Chaliyar River and historical area of Beypore. The KRTMS is able to operate at scale because of its experience in developing Responsible Tourism across Kerala over fifteen years. The Beypore project’s objective “is to provide quality services and unique travel experiences to tourists, simultaneously develop the local economy, improve the quality of life of the local people, create direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local community through tourism, and enhance the capacity of local residents. The project also aims to transform tourism into a vehicle for rural development and women empowerment by imparting necessary training to people in tourism-related activities.” The judges were impressed by the scale of this operation and the detail that the KRTMS was able to provide for us of its planned and phased approach and the scale of impact, which has already been achieved. We hope that others will be inspired by this holistic approach to achieve the implementation of change at scale.
Silver – Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Uttarakhand
https://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in
Uttarakhand has developed a "Tourism Enhancement and Service Excellence Training Program" to realise Responsible Tourism through skills development, local empowerment, raising environmental awareness and championing cultural preservation. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board contributes directly to local economic development and reduces migration pressures by upskilling individuals as heritage and nature guides and hospitality staff. They estimate that through their training programs for heritage tour guides, nature guides, taxi drivers, and guesthouse caretakers, approximately 4,050 individuals have been trained, and 1,128 individuals have gained employment opportunities. They report that many individuals trained through these programs have chosen to stay within their communities, contributing to local economic growth and stability and reducing out-migration and it negative impacts on communities.
Silver – Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Maharashtra
https://www.mtdc.co
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)has introduced a "Bhoomiputra" hiring strategy, prioritizing local residents for resort operations jobs and providing training and development opportunities for local employees to enhance their skills and advance their careers. MTDC has supported businesses by facilitating the supply of local guides, promoting local cuisine and products, and supporting local entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Bed & Breakfast and Mahabhraman schemes, such as agritourism, village tourism, food tourism, safaris, and tribal lifestyles, MTDC’s internship and Fellowship programs provide practical training and experience to youths qualified in the tourism and hospitality sector. The judges were impressed by the scale and range of training programmes being provided by MTDC.
One To Watch – Damu Heritage Dine Arunachal Pradesh
www.instagram.com/damusheritagedine
www.cntraveller.in/story/damu-restaurant-tawang-arunachal-pradesh-monpa-tribe/
Housed in a hundred-year-old abandoned Monpa home in the Chug Valley, Damu’s—which seats only 11 people at a time, and requires you to book a day in advance—serves a diversity of dishes native to the Monpas. Damu is supported by WWF as one of its initiatives to nurture “community conserved areas”, by preserving traditional architecture and reviving their culinary heritage. WWF’s objective is to demonstrate that preserving heritage can be economically viable. Guests can learn how to roll a momo or have a go at the takto shing and a guided walk through the village enables guests to discover indigenous water mills (chuskor) and women making paper from bark.
Damu’s Heritage Dine, is owned and run by eight women from the Monpa community. The initiative has created employment and opportunities by leveraging local skills, traditions, and resources to build a sustainable business model. This initiative has empowered local women, preserved cultural heritage, and provided a stable income source while fostering a sense of pride and ownership within the community.
Founded only in March 2024, the judges were excited by this new initiative and hoped that we shall see a further application demonstrating the success of Damu’s Heritage Dine and its replication in two or three years.
Gold – Saguna Baug Maharashtra
www.sagunabaug.com
Since 1985, Saguna Baug has been developing agritourism across Maharashtra, helping farmers earn an additional income and increase their dignity. There are presently 2000+ agritourism centres across Maharashtra, showcasing agriculture, aquaculture, dairy farming, apiculture, pearl farming, vermicompost, biogas plants, plant nurseries and freshwater pearl culture to visitors many from cities. Only locals from within a five km radius are employed, creating eco-friendly and traditional accommodations with zero waste and 100% recycled. Agritourism contributes to the conservation of rural culture, architecture, food, language, festivals and the environment. The centres host around 1,000 visitors each week and they retail bamboo products made by the tribal communities and 400 value-added products such as pickles, jams and masalas. Two tribal villages have planted bamboo and 100 tribals have registered with the government’s handicraft department. As India urbanises, there are increasing opportunities for responsible agritourism to bring economic benefits to rural areas, reduce out-migration by young people and provide experiences for adults and their children from urban areas.
Silver – Indian Grameen Services Hyderabad
www.igsindia.org.in
Since 1987 Indian Grameen Services (IGS) has been promoting sustainable livelihoods working with small and marginal farmers, tribal forest dwellers and women in and across India to help them enhance their income through a four-pronged strategy as per the Algebra of Livelihood Promotion, viz. collectivization, increase in marketable surplus, reduction in the cost of production and risks, forward and backward linkages and value chain development. During 2023-24, IGS impacted close to 6.30 lakh households across the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and West Bengal. Their strategy is to use responsible and regenerative tourism practices to develop community-based conservation-centric tourism initiatives: regenerative agriculture, solar-powered irrigation, water hyacinth-based craft and compost production. At their Mangalajodi site, bird populations have dramatically recovered, the wetland ecosystem has been conserved, and regenerative agriculture has improved soil health and reduced water contamination, benefiting over 1,185 farming families. Solar pumps have decreased CO2 emissions by 37,422 kg monthly, promoting sustainable farming practices. The IGS has demonstrated how tourism can be used to conserve and regenerate the environment and bring economic benefits to local communities.
One To Watch – The Brahmaputra Drift, Knowhere Travel Karnataka
Knowhere Travel’s business model “is built around the core values of being responsible for the environment and the people we encounter on our travels.” Since 2022 they have partnered with previous Responsible Tourism Awards winners Village Ways and now offer Walking Holidays. They encourage slow travel, long stays and backyard exploration. Offering nature and community experiences in 75 places, their entry is based on 'The Brahmaputra Drift', a series of pack rafting river journeys carefully designed to explore a network of tributaries that form the catchment of the great Brahmaputra River. This non-motorised “water-sport” transport is an exciting innovation introduced in 2023, although one assumes that the rafts must be moved back to the launch point. The judges hope to see a further entry for the Awards when the new product has been operating for a few years and when there is some information on impacts.
Gold – Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh’s Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM) has supported the advancement of inclusive travel by implementing initiatives to ensure that all travellers feel at home in Madhya Pradesh. Through awareness programs, training sessions and employment opportunities, “RTM ensures that women feel empowered to travel independently and participate in tourism activities without any sense of fear.” Through Project Humsafar, the RTM addresses the accessibility needs of differently-abled individuals at tourist destinations. By conducting accessibility audits and implementing infrastructural changes, RTM ensures that all travellers, regardless of their physical abilities, can enjoy the state's tourist attractions. The Responsible Tourism Mission “aims to create opportunities for everyone to participate in and benefit from the tourism sector, thereby promoting social equity and empowerment.”
Silver – Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation Maharashtra
www.abbf.in
Through adaptive adventure and sports activities, they provide “opportunities for people, with and without disability, to come together and experience the adrenaline and camaraderie that only sport has to offer.” They aim “to provide more visibility for people with disability, promoting an environment of openness, sensitivity and empathy.” They report the differently abled having increased self-confidence and self-esteem, greater acceptance of “self-with-disability”, shifts in the public mindset about what the differently abled can do and better access for this marginalised group.
Gold - Nisargyatri Sanstha Maharashtra
www.instagram.com/yatrinisarg/
Konkan geoglyphs on the western coast of India provide signs of thousand years of human existence through artistic expressions of those
inhabitants, etched on laterite plateaus. Tentatively dated from Pre-historic period, they exhibit a variety of rock engraving techniques
to depict human, animal and abstract figures that include various marine and riverine animals, mammals, reptiles, amphibian and avian fauna, some that are now extinct in the region. Study of these geoglyphs could shed, light on the change in climatic and ecological conditions over millennia. Nisargayatri Sanstha was established in 2018 to give wider scope to work begun in 2005 on the Geoglyphs of Konkan. More than 200 Geoglyphs sites have been discovered in Ratnagiri & Sindhudurg Districts, nine of which have been nominated for World Heritage Site listing. In the last three years, more than 150,000 people have visited the Geoglyph sites in Ratnagiri, significantly benefiting the local villagers. The scenic landscape of Konkan, along with its rich culture and traditions, are closely associated with each other. Their blend together will lead to conservation and preservation along with economic development of the villages and the village people. 450 bird species and more than fifty new endemic species of flora have been identified, and 12,000+ sea turtle eggs have been protected and hatched. The judges were impressed by this unusual “celebration” of man’s relationship with nature and tourism’s contribution.
Silver - Kathotiya Eco Jungle Camp, Madhya Pradesh Eco Tourism Board
Madhya Pradesh Eco Tourism Board developed Kathotiya Eco Jungle Camp as an ecotourism destination with community-managed day and night camping packages offering eco-friendly activities like over-night stay facilities in tents, bird watching, village tours, trekking through thick forest areas to ancient rock shelters, waterfalls, sacred sites and adventure activities like rappelling. The camp is managed by an "ecotourism development committee” of local community members, with a forest guard as secretary. The 25 members of the local community are engaged as service providers as guides, cooks, adventure instructors, housekeeping staff, helpers, cleaners and facilitators of eco-friendly activities almost throughout the year their secretary. Kathotiya has hosted close to 10,000 tourists and earned Rs. 45,35,484/- since 2017. The judges recognise this model as a highly replicable way of securing livelihoods for tribal communities like the Bhil, building positive relationships between the forest department and forest dwellers and conserving nature
Silver – Loktak Homestays & Hospitality Services Manipur
www.instagram.com/budhaloktakhomestay/
https://www.facebook.com
Loktak has chosen to partner with locally-owned accommodations that prioritise energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management, utilising renewable energy sources, implementing recycling programs, and minimising their environmental footprint, and to engage with local communities, providing employment opportunities and supporting community-based projects, dedicating a portion of their revenue to funding education, healthcare, and conservation initiatives in the areas we operate.
Their tour activities are designed to minimise disturbance and include low-impact experiences such as hiking, birdwatching, and cultural immersion. Their knowledgeable guides, many from Indigenous communities, educate visitors on the importance of preserving Loktak Lake's unique ecological balance and its surrounding forests and wetlands. Their traditional knowledge fosters a deeper appreciation for this natural wonder. The judges were pleased to see a homestay-based business taking such a holistic approach to the tourism experiences it provides and engaging Indigenous community guides.
One To Watch – Panchabhuta Retreat Karnataka
www.panchabhutaretreat.com/
www.instagram.com/panchabhutaretreat/
Responsible Tourism is the inspiration for Panchabhuta. It originated in 2012 as the headquarters of the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation, a centre for eco-design conferences and permaculture courses, and for biodiversity research. They describe the Retreat as “a creative expression of Panchabhuta with the sole purpose of inspiring collaboration toward the creation of a Circular Green Economy. .. to deliver unrivalled immersive experiences.” Providing a “clear glimpse of a Future with Nature.”
The judges were very impressed by the founding principles and their approach to delivering responsible and meaningful experiences. Green energy and energy-efficient architecture using local, sustainable materials and waste management based on a circular economy strategy. The strong education and awareness focus, the creation of 50+ local jobs and the contribution to community development make this new retreat an outstanding example. We have recognised them this year as One to Watch because with more detail on the nature of positive impacts, this is potentially a Gold regional and Global winner. We hope to see a further application in two or three years' time.
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Our Judging Criteria
We are looking for examples that will inspire and challenge others to take more responsibility for managing tourism to make it more sustainable, minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive. The World Responsible Tourism Awards continue to use the same criteria that have been used since 2016. We expect leaders in Responsible Tourism to have established practices with the following characteristics:
1. Evidence-based: The panel is looking for evidence of real change, businesses which can convincingly demonstrate positive impacts, or reduced negative impacts, quantified wherever possible.
2. Replicability: The Awards aim to inspire change; we seek to identify examples of best practices that can be replicated across the sector and around the world.
3. Innovation: The judges are looking for innovative practices that make a real difference, the Awards highlight new good practices, which the judges believe, can, and should, become common practice.
4. Influence: We look for businesses and organizations that are not only doing good work themselves but are using their influence to ensure their peers and suppliers do the same.
5. Sustainability and longevity: The judges seek to Award those businesses that understand that taking responsibility for tourism is a long journey, that it encompasses the economic, social, and environmental impacts of their activities, and who have a clear vision for the long- term success of the work, with future targets and plans in place.
6. Overall commitment to Responsible Tourism: Alongside the category-specific focus, there needs to be a clear overall commitment to positively impacting local communities, economies, cultures, and environments.
