Community-led tourism in India, women-only employment in Sri Lanka, the restoration of a barren landscape in Rajasthan and new approaches to protecting indigenous culture are among the initiatives recognised in the 2026 ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards.
The awards celebrate organisations across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal that are taking responsibility for the impacts of tourism and demonstrating how it can create local economic opportunities, support inclusion, protect and restore nature, strengthen cultural identity and help destinations adapt to climate change.
The awards recognise achievements across six categories: local economic benefit, diversity, equity and inclusion, nature positive, championing cultural diversity, adapting to climate change and regenerative tourism.
Manisha Pande of ICRT Indian Subcontinent announced the winners at BLTM New Delhi and said: “Across this year’s entries we have seen some inspiring examples of communities being at the heart of tourism, with their knowledge, culture and livelihoods valued. What is particularly encouraging is seeing businesses taking responsibility for their impacts and demonstrating that tourism can make a positive contribution.”
The winners of the 2026 ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards are:
Gold – 2323 Designs, India
2323 Designs is a Delhi-based studio working with craft, culture and communities across eight Indian states. Its programmes have reached more than 4,000 artisans and trained more than 1,500 people. The judges recognised its approach of investing in local skills, enterprises and livelihoods before creating meaningful tourism experiences around those communities.
Silver – Trek the Himalayas, India
Trek The Himalayas puts local economic benefit at the heart of its trekking operations through local employment, fair wages, training and support for local businesses. Its mandatory two-night homestay policy increases local spending while giving visitors an opportunity to experience mountain hospitality. The judges recognised its commitment to ensuring communities benefit from the resources used by trekking.
One to Watch – Ghasyari Homestay, India
Ghasyari Homestay, developed through the Metores Trust’s Udhyam rural entrepreneurship programme, uses tourism to create sustainable livelihoods and address rural outmigration in Uttarakhand. Designed around women’s lives, assets and aspirations, it offers local food, farming, forest walks, storytelling and village experiences. The judges hope to see the initiative grow and demonstrate further impact.
One to Watch – Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation, India
This state-backed ecotourism initiative engages local and tribal communities as guides and support staff, providing training in first aid, biodiversity and conservation. Revenue is shared with local institutions and community organisations to support village development and conservation. Launched in late 2024, the judges look forward to seeing further evidence of its impact.
Gold – Amba Yaalu Kandalama, Sri Lanka
Amba Yaalu Kandalama is Sri Lanka’s first hotel employing only women, from management to maintenance. Gender equality is embedded in its business model, alongside flexible working, safe transport, anti-harassment policies and training. The hotel also supports women through its supply chain, including agriculture, floriculture and community-based tourism. The judges recognised its wider contribution to women’s economic empowerment.
Silver – Explore Hub Nepal, Nepal
Explore Hub Nepal is a women-led travel company offering community-based experiences across Nepal. It trains and employs female guides, supports local entrepreneurship and invests in education and leadership programmes for women. The company also incorporates gender sensitivity and inclusion into its guiding practices. The judges recognised its focus on equity and empowerment within both the workplace and host communities.
One to Watch – Jetwing Kaduruketha, Sri Lanka
Jetwing Kaduruketha combines tourism with agriculture, livelihoods and local enterprise. The 25-room hotel occupies a 60-acre site, including 50 acres dedicated to the revival of heirloom Sri Lankan rice varieties. The judges recognised its local employment, procurement, agricultural partnerships and youth development programme, describing it as an emerging example of Responsible Tourism.
Silver – The Rainforest Ecolodge, Sri Lanka
Located beside the Sinharaja Rainforest, The Rainforest Eco Lodge provides guided rainforest experiences while carefully managing visitor access. Developed on an existing tea estate without clearing forest land, its footprint has remained unchanged since opening in 2012. Small groups, guided visits and non-intrusive wildlife observation help protect habitats and species. The lodge is also LEED Platinum certified.
Silver – Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours, Nepal
Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours combines wildlife experiences with education about responsible behaviour, ecosystems and the pressures of tourism, climate change and pollution. It was the first tour operator to refuse elephant riding and employs a female naturalist guide. The judges recognised its commitment to wildlife protection and its use of tourism income to support conservation and community work.
One to Watch –Keshar Parvat, India
Since 2016, Keshar Parvat has planted around 50,000 trees on a previously barren hillock, with more than 20,000 trees now over 12 feet tall and a reported 95 per cent survival rate. The restored habitat supports birds, butterflies and other wildlife, while a sensory garden provides an experience for children with disabilities. The judges recognised its impressive rewilding work.
One to Watch – Ayurvie Weligama, Sri Lanka
Ayurvie Weligama combines Ayurvedic wellness with responsible hospitality, recognising the connection between human health and the natural environment. Local procurement, renewable energy, water conservation and community engagement are integrated into its operations, while plans to increase biodiversity through native and climate-resilient planting are being developed.
Gold – Tharu Janjati Museum & Living Heritage Landscape, Imlia Koder, Uttar Pradesh, India
Imlia Koder is home to Uttar Pradesh’s first Tribal Museum, celebrating the living heritage of the Tharu community. Developed with local elders, cultural practitioners, artisans, women’s groups and other residents, the project connects heritage with homestays, food, crafts, storytelling and village life. The judges recognised its community-led approach and its potential to be replicated elsewhere.
Silver – Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka
The Heritance Tea Factory is a heritage hotel created from a former tea factory in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Its guest experiences are rooted in the surrounding tea estate and include tea plucking, tasting and interpretation delivered by hotel staff. The judges recognised the way this keeps local tea culture central to the visitor experience while supporting employment and staff development.
One to Watch – Agora Eco Tourism, India
Agora Eco Tourism works with communities in Bastar to create experiences around existing local knowledge, traditions and everyday lives. Visitors meet community guides, homestay hosts, artisans and farmers and learn about local food, occupations and culture. The judges were particularly interested in its approach of building tourism around the community rather than asking the community to adapt to tourism.
One to Watch – Kundan Spiti Stays, India
Kundan Spiti Stays is a family-run homestay and cultural tourism initiative in Hull Village, Spiti Valley. Visitors can experience traditional cooking, local food, village heritage, handicrafts, storytelling and everyday life. The judges welcomed its recognition of local knowledge and cultural practices as valuable tourism assets and its contribution to bringing tourism to a new destination.
Silver – Travel Corporation of India (TCI), India
Travel Corporation of India has developed a four-strand approach to climate resilience covering coastal resilience, water security, workforce and traveller resilience, and destination resilience. Its work includes mangrove planting in Kerala, water security projects and measures to reduce water use. The judges recognised its practical response to the climate risks facing Indian destinations.
Silver – Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Royal Palms Beach Hotel has reduced its environmental footprint through renewable energy, water conservation, waste management and coastal ecosystem protection. Rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse and composting are combined with year-on-year reductions in resource use. Its 2025 carbon assessment recorded a 19 per cent reduction against its 2018 baseline, while a heat pump now supplies its hot water.
Silver – Delhi By Cycle, India
Delhi By Cycle has operated guided bicycle tours through the city since 2014, connecting visitors with local communities while offering an alternative to vehicle-based sightseeing. The company estimates that cycling has avoided approximately 120–150 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The judges recognised its contribution to lower-carbon tourism while providing visitors with a richer way to experience Delhi.
One to Watch –The Abduz, India
The Abduz in Leh, Ladakh has adopted a data-driven approach to energy management, monitoring electricity consumption and energy intensity against occupied rooms. The judges recognised its focus on measurement, monitoring and continuous improvement as an important approach to both climate mitigation and adaptation.
Gold – Wild Glamping Gal Oya, Sri Lanka
Wild Glamping Gal Oya has transformed a former chena cultivation site into an organic farming and low-impact tourism destination. Wildlife, agricultural and cultural experiences generate benefits for local guides, artisans, farmers and the Rathugala Vedda community. The judges recognised it as an example of tourism contributing to the regeneration of both nature and community.
Silver – Great Himalaya Trail Nepal
The Great Himalaya Trail is a decentralised network designed to transform high-altitude tourism into a regenerative force for Himalayan communities. Its work includes community knowledge hubs, training for remote teahouse owners and open-source mapping to address climate risks. The judges recognised its combination of tourism, resilience, local economic benefit and community capacity building.
Silver – Ecosphere Journeys, India
Ecosphere is a social enterprise in Spiti working across conservation, sustainable livelihoods and climate action. Tourism revenues and volunteering support artificial glaciers, solar-passive rooms and community greenhouses, while more than 20,000 medical procedures and 100 scholarships for local girls have been funded. Its rotational homestay model distributes tourism income equitably. The judges recognised its innovative approach to linking tourism, conservation and livelihoods.
One to Watch – Tropiq Getaways India
Tropiq Getaways is developing a low-impact, community-integrated tourism model combining electric mobility, community-led storytelling and heritage-linked livelihoods. It works with farmers, artisans, tribal families, youth guides and local vendors to maximise economic benefits. The judges recognised the potential for this approach to be regenerative and hope to see further evidence of its impact as it develops.
One to Watch – Scott Dunn, Sri Lanka
Scott Dunn’s partnership with the Lanka Environment Fund supports Project Hyacinthesis, tackling the invasive water hyacinth through a circular economy approach. Local artisans and businesses are being supported to turn the removed plant into commercial products, creating livelihoods while restoring waterways. The judges recognised this as an exciting example of regenerative tourism, linking nature restoration with local economic regeneration.
The 2026 Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards judging panel was chaired by Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, founder ICRT global and judges included ICRT India Foundation members Rupesh Kumar, Swati Parmar, Dr Aditi Choudhary, Dr Sanjib Sarangi, Kumar Anubhav, Manisha Pande and for ICRT Sri Lanka Charmarie Maelge.
Gold winners from the 2026 ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards will automatically go forward to compete for a 2026 Global Responsible Tourism Award sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board. They will compete against Gold winners from the ICRT regional awards in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the worldwide awards.The Global Responsible Tourism Awards will be announced in London on 2 November 2026.
Image credit: Ella UP Sri Lanka by Atlantic Ambience, Pexels
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