The twenty-four winners of the ICRT 2026 Indian Subcontinent Awards have been announced at the BLTM Trade Show in New Delhi today. The innovators from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka have provided clear evidence, replicability, innovation, influence and an overall commitment to Responsible Tourism.
The 2026 Indian Subcontient 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.
The judges’ citations provide a clear overview of each winning project:
Local Economic Benefit Responsible Tourism Awards
GOLD: 2323 Designs, India
2323 Designs is the working name of Twenty3 Stories Endeavors — a Delhi-based studio working at the intersection of design, craft, culture and community. From its origin in 2018 it now works across eight states with seven hundred women running: “training programmes, design development engagements, women-led enterprise builds, market-linked initiatives and cultural platforms shaped with partners across India.” It takes on only a small number of projects each year covering skills development and training programmes for artisans, weavers and women entrepreneurs; design and product development for craft clusters, MSMEs and conscious brands; market access, buyer linkages and catalogue building; cultural curation, event design and platform building; and programme design and curriculum work for institutional partners. Its “work has touched over 4,000 artisans across India and trained more than 1,500 in community clusters,” using “design as a tool for enterprise development and local empowerment.” Through 23 Latitude it first “invests in local skills, enterprises, cultural confidence and livelihoods, and then create meaningful tourism experiences around those communities”. In the application, links were provided with detailed reports and presentations about its projects.
SILVER: Trek the Himalayas, India
Trek the Himalayas says: “Trekking isn’t limited to reaching the summit point, it also includes the lives we touch and the footprints we leave behind. …respecting nature, empowering local communities, and promoting ethical tourism practices.” By prioritizing the employment of local people, providing fair wages and safe working conditions and supporting local businesses it contributes to reducing out migration by investing in training. The judges recognised the strength of this operator’s motivation to do trekking differently. In the awards application Trek the Himalayas said: “as a trekking organization, we use village roads, mountain trails, water sources, and community infrastructure to conduct our operations. So, if we are profiting from these resources without creating meaningful opportunities for the communities, then we fail in our responsibility as a socially conscious entity.” It does not merely facilitate trekking it encourages the eating of traditional Himalayan crops, the maintenance of traditional farming methods and the purchase local craft, enriching the trekker experience and local livelihoods. A mandatory two-night homestay policy at basecamps, one night before and one after, increases the local spend and provides guests with an. opportunity to experience genuine mountain hospitality.
One to Watch: Ghasyari Homestay, India
The judges were impressed by the approach of the Metores Trust’s Udhyam rural entrepreneurship program working in the hills of Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region to counter out migration by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in the villages through locally owned and community-based enterprise. The Ghasyari Homestay was developed to address women’s empowerment by creating a tourism enterprise designed around women’s lives, assets and aspirations. Guests are welcomed to enjoy local food, farming experiences, forest walks, traditional architecture, storytelling and everyday village life. The judges hope to see a further application as the scale of the initiative grows.
One to Watch: Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation, India
This is a state backed ecotourism initiative across Tamil Nadu. Local and tribal communities have been engaged as trekking guides and support staff and have been provided with upskilling training in first aid, emergency response, biodiversity, flora and fauna, and conservation principles. Revenue generated through the programme is shared with local institutions such as the Eco Development Committees and other community-based organisations to support village development and conservation activities. The programme was only launched late in 2024, the judges hope to see it apply again two or three years when there will be more evidence of its impact
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Responsible Tourism Awards
GOLD: Amba Yaalu Kandalama, Sri Lanka
Amba Yaalu Kandalama is Sri Lanka’s first hotel in a pioneering hospitality model that combines operational excellence, sustainability, and gender equality – the hotel employs only women from management to maintenance: …”gender equality is not an additional programme layered onto an existing business; it is the foundation upon which the entire business was built.” Located in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, the resort offers an immersive guest experience inspired by Sri Lankan literature, cinema, culture, and nature while demonstrating the transformative potential of women’s leadership in tourism. The hotel has encouraged women in its supply chain across mushroom cultivation, floriculture, agriculture, and community-based tourism. The hotel introduced flexible work arrangements, safe transportation options, accommodation support, anti-harassment policies, gender-awareness training, workplace safety programs, and clear reporting mechanisms to create a supportive environment that enables women to succeed; and partnerships were established with local women entrepreneurs and suppliers, ensuring that economic benefits extended beyond direct employment.
SILVER: Explore Hub Nepal, Nepal
Explore Hub Nepal is a women-led, socially responsible travel company which since 2020 been offering “meaningful, immersive and community-based experiences for travellers across Nepal.” The company is committed to sustainability and women’s empowerment, training and employs female guides, supports local entrepreneurship, and invests in education and leadership programs for women. It has gone the extra mile providing “ gender-sensitivity and inclusion awareness within guiding practices to ensure respectful and welcoming experiences for all travellers. As a women-led company, our approach centers on equity, inclusion, and empowerment within both the workplace and host communities.” The judges were excited to see this application and hope to see a further application in a year or two with more data on volume and impact on women’s livelihoods
One to Watch: Jetwing Kaduruketha , Sri Lanka
Jetwing Kaduruketha is a 25-room boutique hotel occupying 10 acres of a 60-acre site. 50 acres is used for revival of heirloom Sri Lankan rice varieties. It is possibly best understood as an integrated rural development initiative, connecting agriculture, livelihoods, culture, and tourism to strengthen the local economy. Through local employment, procurement, agricultural partnerships, skills development, and enterprise support, the hotel ensures that tourism revenue is retained within the destination and contributes directly to local livelihoods. The judges were excited to see a boutique hotel delivering so much for inclusion and not only for its own staffing needs. Jetwing has conducted two intakes of the Jetwing Youth Development Programme which creates pathways for young people to enter the hospitality industry through hands on training and experience, pursuing opportunities within Jetwing or elsewhere in the industry. For guests the authentic immersive experience offer is also very diverse including “agricultural traditions, rural lifestyle, cuisine, and culture.” Kaduruketha is emerging as an outstanding example of Responsible Tourism, addressing a diverse range of issues. The judges very much hope to see a further application in a few years’ time with more information on its impact.
Nature Positive Responsible Tourism Awards
SILVER: The Rainforest Ecolodge, Sri Lanka
The Rainforest Ecolodge is stationed on the borders of the Sinharaja Rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge offers a rainforest experience through guided treks providing guides, “leech socks, trekking sticks, and raincoats as required.” The lodge is LEED Platinum certified by the US Green Building Council, and is Sri Lanka’s first officially classified Ecolodge, recognised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). The lodge was developed on an existing tea estate without clearing forest land, and its physical footprint has remained unchanged since opening in 2012. This ensures that no primary rainforest habitat has been lost or fragmented due to the development. Controlled access to the forest through guided visits, small group sizes, and non-intrusive wildlife observation helps protect species behaviour and trail integrity. Wildlife experiences are entirely non-consumptive, with no feeding, extraction, or interference.
SILVER: Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours, Nepal
Nepal Dynamic Eco Tours is a locally owned and family-run ecotourism company based in Sauraha, Chitwan. It offers professional guided tours within and beyond the Chitwan National Park. The tours are based on a robust educational platform. Visitors receive practical guidance on wildlife behaviour, ecosystem dynamics and responsible conduct in natural areas, as well as information on the pressures caused by tourism, climate change and pollution. It was the first tour operator to refuse to provide elephant riding and to employ a female naturalist guide, she became a visible role model in a traditionally male-dominated sector. All guests receive clear guidance on appropriate behaviour, including maintaining distance, limiting noise and respecting habitats. These practices reduce stress on wildlife while still offering meaningful and educational encounters. Income generated during the tourist season provides the financial basis for conservation and community work throughout the year.
One to Watch: Keshar Parvat, India
Kershar Parvat is an impressive rewilding project which demonstrates the impact of restoring a diverse habitat. Since 2016 some 50,000 trees have been planted on a rocky barren hillock. More than 20,000 trees have gained a height of more than 12 feet with a survival rate of 95%. “Keshar Parvat stands for Spirituality, Serenity, Nature, Lovely Environment, Inner Bliss, Good Health, Green Stay, Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness.” There is a sensory garden for children with disabilities. More than 50,000 people have visited Keshar Parvat in the last three years “to get rejuvenated with more energy and more vigour.” The diverse trees provide habitat for 25 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies, and wild animals like jackal, hyena, neelgay, and wild pigs.
One to Watch: Ayurvie Weligama, Sri Lanka
Ayurvie Weligama is a 32 guest room wellness retreat on the southern coast of Sri Lanka that combines authentic Ayurvedic healing with responsible hospitality. The philosophy of Ayurveda teaches that human health cannot be separated from the health of the natural environment. A retreat dedicated to healing therefore has a responsibility to protect the ecosystems, natural resources, and communities on which that healing depends. Responsible resource management, local procurement, renewable energy, water conservation, and community engagement are integrated into daily operations to ensure that the wellbeing of guests is supported by a healthy and resilient environment. The retreat intends to enhance biodiversity within the property by expanding the use of native and climate-resilient plant species that support local ecosystems while reducing irrigation requirements. The judges hope to see a further application in a few years that reports increased biodiversity.
Championing Cultural Diversity Responsible Tourism Awards
GOLD: Tharu Janjati Museum & Living Heritage Landscape, Imlia Koder Uttar Pradesh, India
The Tharu Janjati Museum and Living Heritage Landscape is Uttar Pradesh’s first Tribal Museum. Imlia Koder is a forest village near the Indo-Nepal border with a population of under two thousand, largely from the Tharu scheduled tribe. Imlia Koder demonstrates how tribal heritage: “can lead India’s rural tourism future. It shows that museums need not be confined to cities; they can thrive within villages, co-created with communities, and serve as living classrooms for visitors.” “Spread across 5.5 acres, it curates the living heritage of the Tharu people — their history, attire, food systems, tools, music, and oral storytelling traditions. Importantly, it has been developed with the active participation of the community, ensuring that the exhibits are not frozen in time but reflect a culture still alive and evolving.” By attracting visitors, the museum has created opportunities for homestays, traditional food experiences, and revival of local crafts such as moonj basketry and jalkumbhi mats, creating livelihoods and a motivation to “preserve and showcase their traditions.” “A key principle of the project was that culture should be presented by the community rather than interpreted solely through external institutions. Local residents, community elders, cultural practitioners, artisans, women’s groups, and village stakeholders contributed knowledge, stories, cultural practices, and traditional skills that informed both museum interpretation and visitor experiences.” The museum adopted a landscape approach “… integrated with the wider village environment. Visitors are encouraged to engage with traditional architecture, local cuisine, cultural performances, storytelling traditions, handicrafts, agricultural practices, and everyday village life.” The judges were excited to see the emergence and success of this new approach and hope that it will be widely replicated.
SILVER: Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka
The Heritance Tea Factory is a 50-room heritage hotel located in Sri Lanka’s central highlands within an active tea-growing region. The factory was converted into a hotel in 1996 providing accommodation and tea plucking, tea tasting, estate interpretation, and high-tea experiences based on the history of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The guest experiences are designed around tea estate operations and are delivered by hotel staff, relying on staff knowledge of tea cultivation and the surrounding landscape. The judges recognised that this ensures that experiential tourism revenue supports local employment rather than external operators and that the hotel’s tea culture remains strong. Staff receive training in hospitality service standards, sustainability and tea knowledge providing opportunities for career advancement for staff and sustaining the hotel’s tea culture.“Set in a private garden space and surrounded by crisp mountain air and views, the Hethersett Bonfire offers an escape into warmth, flavour, and flaming exclusivity. Sink into plush blankets as the flames crackle and the view unfolds across the highlands. Roast marshmallows, dip into rich chocolate chips, savour treacle-drizzled crackers, and sip a comforting cup of our signature Hethersett Yara Tea.”
One to Watch: Agora Eco Tourism, Chhattisgarh, India
Agora Eco Tourism proudly declares on its website “At Agora, we offer one-of-a-kind customised travel experiences. We connect you to the land, locals and their legacy…. At Agora you explore, experience and learn about the locals, their minimalist lifestyle, unique cuisines, art and culture, rituals, customs and so much more!”
Local guides accompany guests, ‘students, youth and everyone who is curious’ to Bastar where “tourists are introduced to the cultural food, occupation, activities and traditions practised for decades by the local tribal community.” Founded in 2022, Agora Eco Tourism works with vulnerable tribal groups working: “alongside community guides, homestay hosts, artisans, farmers and traditional knowledge holders, building experiences around their existing knowledge, traditions and everyday lives rather than creating attractions specifically for tourism.” The judges were intrigued by their efforts to build tourism “around the community, rather than asking the community to adapt to tourism.” We hope to see a further application in a few years’ time when the impact and success of this approach will be evident, it is an admirable aspiration and we wish it success.
One to Watch: Kundan Spiti Stays Hull Village, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Kundan Spiti Stays is a family-run homestay and cultural tourism initiative located in Hull Village, a remote settlement in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, providing local hospitality, and immersive cultural experiences that enable visitors to engage meaningfully with the traditions, lifestyle, and heritage of the community. Curated experiences are offered including traditional chulha cooking, local food tasting, Spiti attire photography, village heritage walks, visits to monasteries and votive stupas, crochet and handicraft workshops, storytelling sessions, stargazing, camping, and guided interactions, cultural exchanges. Kundan Spiti Stays is a relatively new initiative; Hull Village is a new destination in the Spiti Valley. The judges admire the recognition of local knowledge and cultural practices as valuable tourism assets and the enterprise of one family bringing tourism to the village.
Adapting to Climate Change Responsible Tourism Awards
SILVER: Travel Corporation of India (TCI) India
The Travel Corporation of India includes Sita travels, Distant Frontiers, GoVacation India, Vilāsita, Aranya by Sita and is one of India’s leading destination management companies. It signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism in 2022 recognising that tourism in India is deeply tied to climate-exposed ecosystems – from the backwaters and coastline of Kerala to the mountains and wildlife habitats in the north. There are four strands to its climate resilience work: (i)coastal resilience (1,000 mangrove saplings planted in Kerala); (ii) water security (collaborative CSR initiative – household water-purifier provision and office water-saving measures); (iii) workforce and traveller resilience to extreme heat and weather (flexible working policies and weather monitoring); and (iv) destination resilience (sustainable excursions, carrying-capacity management and a deliberate push toward off-season travel). For example, together with Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation (UK) and the Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission Society, it funded water purifiers for 11 households in Kumarakom village, Kerala, securing clean drinking water for families exposed to saline intrusion and water stress. In the head office washrooms have been converted to “no-flush” urinals and bio-enzyme cleaning systems, saving 100–150 litres of water daily and also through reducing flush-timer from 5 to 3.5 seconds.
SILVER: Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
Royal Palms Beach Hotel has reduced its environmental footprint by adopting renewable energy , natural resource conservation, the elimination of single-use plastics, effective waste management, coastal ecosystem protection. Committed to both climate change mitigation and adaptation it seeks to protect long-term environmental, social, and economic value. Water resilience is a key priority, all guest rooms have low-flow taps and showers, dual-flush toilets, sensor-operated taps, and automated urinals. Rainwater is harvested and wastewater is treated and reused. Garden waste is converted into compost and reused within the property, improving soil quality, water retention, and drought resilience. The hotel has achieved year-on-year reductions in electricity, diesel, water, and LPG consumption per guest night. It conducted its first carbon footprint assessment in 2015. In 2025, they conducted a further assessemtn covering six emission categories revealing a total footprint of 1,582 tCO₂e, representing a 19% reduction compared with their 2018 baseline. An air-to-air heat pump system, now supplies 100% of the hotel’s hot water demand reducing diesel consumption for hot water generation by approximately 40%.
SILVER: Delhi By Cycle, India
Delhi By Cycle has been operating guided cultural bicycle tours through the lanes of Delhi since 2014 connecting guests from around the world with local communities, sharing Delhi’s stories firsthand at a human pace. Their tours create lasting memories by offering guests the rare opportunity to experience the real Delhi from the ‘ground level and enjoy the unique thrill of cycling through its beautifully organised chaos.’ The company estimates that cycling has helped avoid approximately 120–150 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by replacing short vehicle-based sightseeing trips with bicycle and walking tours. Although this is only a small contribution to the overall environmental challenges faced by Delhi, it demonstrates that tourism can be part of the solution. Every guest who chooses to explore the city by bicycle instead of a motor vehicle makes a positive environmental choice while enjoying a richer and more memorable experience. The judges hope to see this approach replicated – every little helps.
One to Watch: The Abduz, India
The Abduz is a five-star luxury hotel in Leh, Ladakh built in 2019 with 42 guest rooms. By closely monitoring electricity use closely and at energy intensity against occupied rooms it has been able to shift its approach from reacting to problems to proactively identifying opportunities for improvement. “For us, sustainability is not defined by one flagship initiative. It is built through consistent measurement, careful monitoring and continuous improvement. Every system we implement gives us better data, every improvement becomes a new benchmark, and every reporting cycle helps us make more informed decisions.” The judges recognise that this approach is essential for both mitigation and adaptation and urge everyone to adopt this approach.
Regenerative Tourism Responsible Tourism Awards
GOLD: Wild Glamping Gal Oya, Sri Lanka
Wild Glamping Gal Oya is a nature-based glamping retreat located close to Gal Oya National Park in eastern Sri Lanka. Established in 2021 on a 30-acre former chena cultivation site, it has been converted to organic farming and a low-impact tourism destination, offering immersive wildlife, cultural, and agricultural experiences while contributing to the wellbeing of nature in the surrounding landscape and creating lasting value for the indigenous Rathugala Vedda community. Trekking, birdwatching, farm experiences, cooking demonstrations, and cultural performances provide meaningful engagement and generating direct economic benefits for local guides, artisans, farmers, and community members. The initiative demonstrates how tourism can actively contribute to the regeneration of both nature and community. . Boat safaris, guided wildlife experiences, nature interpretation and cultural encounters encourage visitors to understand the biodiversity, history and traditions of Gal Oya, fostering respect for both nature and the people who protect it. The judges recognised Wild Glamping Gal Oya as an example of how tourism can both actively contribute to the regeneration of the landscape, its responsible management, and create local benefit, value and respect for indigenous culture, and encourage visitors to become partners in appreciating and protecting the unique natural and cultural heritage of Rathugala.
SILVER: Great Himalaya Trail, Nepal
The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is a network of trails forming one of the longest, and definitely the highest continuous walking paths on earth. Stretching from Pakistan to Bhutan, the GHT promotes sustainable tourism in remote mountain regions. The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is a decentralised, open-source resilience network designed to transform high-altitude tourism from an extractive industry into a regenerative force for Himalayan communities. Rather than acting as a traditional destination manager or tour operator, the GHT functions as an “idea incubator” and infrastructure planner that empowers local stakeholders to manage their own environment and safety. It has established “Check-in-Point” knowledge hubs in 30 remote teahouses through a specialised monsoon-season training program developing hospitality, guiding, and sustainable resource management skills. It has also developed a “Risk Indicator Engine” using Sentinel-1 satellite imagery, to identify active landslide movements and glacial lake expansions. This data is converted into free, open-source safety layers to protect both trekkers and the essential infrastructure of host communities and to train local experts to manage climate-risk remains within Nepal. Focusing on safety and community resilience is an important part of to the consequences of climate change.
SILVER: Ecosphere Journeys, India
Ecosphere is a social enterprise based in the high-altitude cold desert of Spiti, in Himachal Pradesh. Founded in 2009, it works at the intersection of conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate action. Profits are re-invested in artificial glaciers to solve water shortages, building solar-passive rooms to eliminate carbon dependency, and greenhouse initiatives to improve community nutrition. Ecosphere has funded more than 20,000 medical, oral, and vision procedures and 100+ scholarships for local girls through a travel and volunteer program. By matching traveller professional skills and physical labour with village needs, they have facilitated the construction of 300+ solar-passive greenhouses. Traveller skills are channelled into the community’s most pressing needs such as nutrition, healthcare, and education. A rotational homestay model ensures that tourism is cooperative instead of competitive with business distributed between equitably between homestays. Ecosphere is using tourism revenues and volunteering to address biodiversity loss, health, water insecurity, using solar to heat rooms and reducing youth out migration. By linking livelihoods directly to the conservation of indigenous “superfoods” like Seabuckthorn, traditional crafts, and hospitality, it has sought to create a regenerative economic engine.
One to Watch: Tropiq Getaways, India
Tropiq “bridges the gap between experiential travellers and remote, self-sustaining destinations prioritising nature and ensuring local communities truly benefit.” It has: “redesigned tourism around electric mobility, community-led storytelling, and heritage-linked livelihoods.” It supports farmers, artisans, tribal families, youth guides, jeep drivers, caterers, and local vendors thereby maximising local economic benefits. Tropiq is operating a “low-impact, community-integrated tourism” model. The judges recognise the regenerative potential of this approach and hope to see a further application in due course evidencing regenerative impacts as it develops.
One to Watch: Scott Dunn, Sri Lanka
In 2025, Scott Dunn launched a partnership for nature with Conservation Collective, in order to protect and restore wild places across the world. Guests are able to donate to Conservation Collective with every trip they book, directing funding to locally-led conservation projects in the destinations they visit. Partnering with the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), Project Hyacinthesis was launched: a circular economy initiative tackling one of Sri Lanka’s most damaging invasive species, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Funding has enabled LEF to commission Foundation for a Good Life (Good Life X) to lead a scoping study followed by a community accelerator programme that trains artisans and businesses already working with plant-based fibres to use water hyacinth as a commercial raw material – turning removal into a livelihood. Products targeted include crafts, baskets, table mats, handbags, and lifestyle goods, aimed at Sri Lanka’s domestic lifestyle and hospitality markets and international export. The judges recognise this as an exciting example of regenerative tourism. “Restoration and economic regeneration are not treated as separate goals – they are the same process. This is what distinguishes the initiative within the regenerative tourism framework; it offers guests not a carbon offset or a generic donation, but a tangible, traceable stake in the recovery of a specific place. The waterways being restored are the same ones guests travel to see. The communities gaining new livelihoods are the same ones whose knowledge and hospitality shape the guest experience.” We hope to see a further application as the regenerative value is evidenced.
Global Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by Belize Tourism Board
Gold winners of the ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards will automatically go onto compete for a Global Responsible Tourism Award sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board . They will contend for a global award against gold winners from Responsible Tourism Awards run in Latin America, Africa, Europe Southeast Asia and a worldwide award for all other geographies. The Global Responsible Tourism Award winners will be announced on Monday 2 November.
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