Indian Subcontinent Award Citations

Innovative homestays, hotels, village communities, tourist boards, tour operators and regenerative agricultural and conservation organisations across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives are among the winners of the 2025 ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards.

The awards were presented at the BLTM trade conference in New Delhi on 13 September 2025. Each winning organisation was recognised with either a silver, a gold or a “one to watch” award. The “one-to-watch” accolade indicates that the judges are excited by the entry, but the projects are either very new or not yet proven to be sustainable. In these instances the judges would like to see a future submission with evidence of impact and influence. The criteria the judges apply are available here.

All Indian Subcontinent Tourism Award Gold winners now automatically go onto contend for a 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Award sponsored by Sabre and will compete on a world stage against winners from Latin America, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Manisha Pande, managing director of Village Ways and co-founder of ICRT India said: “Every year the judges find an incredible range of innovative ideas, all backed with clear evidence of impact. We commend every single organisation that has been recognised today and urge any organisation, anywhere in the world to be inspired by our outstanding 2025 winners.”

The 2025 ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Award winner citations are:

ALL INCLUSIVES RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

All-inclusive holidays and resorts are widely criticised, but other all-inclusive travel experiences are not. There are all-inclusive safaris in Africa, many in national parks, yacht charters in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Americas, and all-inclusive cruises. There are all-inclusive holidays for the disabled and their families, too. The criticism often appears to be tinged with disdain, dismissed as an inferior form of tourism denying economic opportunities to local businesses and delivering a third-best experience for those who book them, unless, of course, it is a luxury all-inclusive. With mounting concern about the impacts of overtourism on the guest experience and on local communities, are there all-inclusives that contribute to reducing negative impacts and enhancing the positive?

Gold: Heel Oya CBT Village  (Sri Lanka)

Heel Oya is a community-based tourism village in Sri Lanka. The judges praised its community-based tour packages for integrating food, trekking, local gastronomy, and traditional agriculture into immersive experiences, while offering homestays and newly curated activities. They commended the dual‑pricing system for international and Sri Lankan visitors, ensuring affordability for locals without compromising quality, as well as discounted rates for students and educational visits. Equally notable was Heel Oya’s emphasis on inclusivity: designing slow travel interactions for differently abled visitors; involving local women, Tamil artisans, youth, and elders in all roles; and dedicating 20% of their income to a village Community Development Fund. The judges recognised that Heel Oya’s approach preserves traditional knowledge, strengthens community unity, supports sustainable livelihoods, and ensures that all participants, both locals and tourists, gain awareness, respect, and an authentic connection. The approach benefits both the community and business and should inspire others.

Silver: Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board  (India)

Judges noted UTDB’s efforts to introduce accessible infrastructure and subsidies to widen participation for differently abled and senior travellers. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, is actively working to reshape the state’s tourism narrative by promoting sustainability and inclusivity, particularly through campaigns that highlight local food, culture, and traditions. Initiatives such as ‘Paryatan Pakhwada’ and the involvement of heritage villages seek to reconnect travellers with indigenous practices and responsible tourism values. The Board emphasises capacity-building through community trainings, guide certification, and efforts to promote local arts and crafts. Destinations suitable for differently abled travellers are also being promoted, reflecting the UTDB’s determination to make tourism more accessible. The judges considered UTDB’s approach a replicable model for state-led responsible tourism, already generating interest from other districts.

One to Watch: Trek The Himalayas  (India)

Trek the Himalayas runs guided expeditions across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim in India. It has introduced inclusive treks for families, school groups, people with disabilities, and senior citizens curating over 100 family and child groups that foster bonding through nature. It has organised more than 10 experiential treks for schools and teens designed to build confidence, teamwork, and environmental awareness; and offers Responsible Tourism experiences focused on trail clean‑ups, waste-segregation, and sustainable trekking education. The inclusion of differently-abled trekkers, specially designed senior trails, local and student-friendly pricing, and delivery of consistently high-quality and integrity across all experiences is commendable. The community delivery of all services, ensures an equal role for women, sourcing of local produce, support for youth and elders, and has established a dedicated community development fund. The award judges view the model as one that makes trekking truly accessible, inclusive, and transformative.

MANAGING WASTE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

This award recognises businesses, destinations, and initiatives that have implemented effective waste management strategies, demonstrating a commitment to minimising waste, eliminating single-use plastics, and repurposing materials in ways that benefit the environment and local communities.  Winners in this category will have proven, scalable solutions that reduce tourism’s environmental footprint and create economic or social value from waste

Gold: TIEEDI Permaculture Foundation (India)

TIEEDI is an environmental conservation organisation in Darjeeling which proudly proclaims it is waging a war on waste. It has emerged as a pioneering force in regenerative tourism from the hills of Darjeeling. Through permaculture-based zero-waste homestays, forest gardens, and eco-architecture, it has organised 3000+ workshops, diverted over 650 tonnes of waste from landfills in Darjeeling since 2016, transformed a 1.5-acre former municipal dumping ground into a thriving forest garden, converted 50 households into zero-waste homes within three months, and built community-led systems for composting and solid waste management. Beyond infrastructure, TIEEDI is shifting mindsets, making waste visible, and inspiring both locals and travellers to live in harmony with nature. TIEED is turning waste into opportunity and crafting a circular, community-rooted model of sustainability.

Silver: DDH Hospitality (India)

DDH Hospitality is a micro enterprise based in Kalady, Cochin (Kerala), India, specialising in short-term accommodation services such as holiday homes and private guest houses. It has won Silver for turning every journey into a zero-waste mission: gifting steel bottles and cotton bags to over 8,000 guests to cut out single-use plastics. It runs Eco Trail Nomads treks with strict “carry-in, carry-out” practices; has led 80+ clean-up drives with Nature Guards that removed an estimated 2,600-3,000 kg of plastic; and sparked behaviour change with a  3,000 sq-ft wall painting for anti-litter wall campaign at Attapadi. DDH Hospitality’s work is all self-funded and community-first, aligned with Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission.

CLIMATE ADAPTATION & RESILIENCE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

This award recognises businesses, destinations, and initiatives that are taking proactive, innovative, and scalable steps to both reduce their carbon footprint and protect tourism infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems from climate-related risks. The judges were looking for practices that have demonstrated measurable progress in decarbonising tourism operations and/or developing adaptive solutions that safeguard tourism’s future.

Gold: Heritance Hotels, Kandalama (Sri Lanka)

Heritance Kandalama is a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka which was designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Baway. It is addressing and adapting to climate change goals, by offering a long-term, well-integrated regenerative tourism model that is measurable, credible, and deeply embedded in both ecology and community. More than 200 acres of degraded land has been reforested with native species, supporting 170+ bird species and diverse wildlife, with biodiversity recovery backed by solid data. The architectural design is fully integrated with nature; no trees were felled, the buildings have green roofs and passive cooling, minimizing visual and environmental impact. Community benefits are significant, including over 50% local employment, biomass energy sourced from villagers, and an in-house hotel school (KITHO) fostering sustainable livelihoods. Robust systems for biodiversity monitoring, operational efficiency, and annual reporting are maintained under recognised third-party certifications such as ISO 14001 and Travelife Gold. The project demonstrates proven industry leadership, with widely replicated practices, guest education programs, and strong ecosystem protection.

Silver: SAGG Eco Village (Kashmir, India)

SAGG Eco Village is a lifestyle retreat located in the Harmukh foothills of Kashmir, India. The judges were particularly impressed by SAGG Eco Village for making a high standard of nature-positive tourism accessible to a broad range of travellers, while deeply engaging and benefiting the local community. SAGG stands out not just for its ecological restoration and low‑impact design, but for involving locals in every phase: traditional building, organic farming, cultural revival, guest participation, and livelihood opportunities. The judges noted that SAGG’s model demonstrates how sustainable, inclusive tourism can be scaled without compromising authenticity or environmental sensitivity.

One to Watch: The Soaltee Kathmandu (Nepal)

The Soaltee Kathmandu is an iconic five-star hotel in Nepal renowned for combining  Nepali heritage, and modern luxury. It has committed to climate adaptation by appointing a sustainability officer and green team to drive change across the property. Key measures already implemented include large-scale solar panels, an EV fleet for guest transfers, and an in-house glass bottling plant to eliminate single-use plastics. The judges recognized these as proven, replicable steps for hotels, particularly where modernization must be balanced with cultural preservation. The Soaltee is therefore noted as One to Watch for its potential to move from standard industry practices toward a more regionally influential climate-adaptation model.

 NATURE POSITIVE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The tourism sector has a responsibility to contribute to the reversal of biodiversity loss and to protect nature for future generations by promoting a regenerative approach to tourism. We looked for businesses that act as guardians of biodiversity and take a regenerative approach to their operations.   We have two gold winners in this category for 2025.

Gold:  Jetwing Vil Uyana  (Sri Lanka)

Jetwing Vil Uyana is an resort located in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, approximately 5 km from the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It was developed by Jetwing Hotels on a 28-acre site that was previously used for agricultural purposes and is designed to reflect traditional Sri Lankan village architecture. Jetwing Vil Uyana exemplifies nature-positive tourism through its transformative restoration of degraded land into a biodiverse wetland supporting over 300 species. The resort demonstrates robust sustainability practices, including rainwater harvesting, biogas energy, and solar power, actively reducing tourism’s environmental footprint. Its Loris Conservation Project enables meaningful, non-intrusive wildlife experiences coupled with strong educational outreach. Independent research by the University of Colombo evidences the impacts. The judges commended Jetwing Vil Uyana for presenting a leading model in ecosystem regeneration and visitor education, with potential to deepen community engagement for holistic nature-positive impact.

Gold: Six Senses Laamu (Maldives)

The luxury resort of Six Senses Laamu delivers a highly replicable, science-backed model of nature-positive tourism, grounded in long-term conservation initiatives such as coral spawning research, megafauna tracking, and turtle ranger programs; each showing measurable ecological outcomes. The resort’s “Protect the Seagrass” campaign notably influenced national policy, reversing harmful industry practices and setting a precedent for environmental leadership driven by a single property. Strong community engagement is embedded through programs like ‘Laamaseelu Masveriya’, fostering shared ownership among local fishers and creating documented behavioural change. With an in-house team of eight environmental experts and a dedicated sustainability fund, the resort demonstrates exceptional institutional capacity and commitment.

Educational outreach is robust, with more than 10,000 guest and student engagements, and operations are enhanced through the Earth Lab, systematically addressing waste, energy, and carbon reduction. Judges noted these approaches have been replicated by other resorts and adopted nationally.  The judges said that Six Senses Laamu has positioned itself as a benchmark for sustainability in luxury tourism.

One to watch: Tripura Tourism (India)

The tourist board Tripura Tourism in  north east India  presents a strong cultural tourism offering, enhancing access to heritage and supporting community inclusion through improved infrastructure and increased footfall. It demonstrates good intent in eco-tourism, leveraging both cultural and natural assets to enrich visitor experience. Judges encourage them to apply again.

INCREASING LOCAL SOURCING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

Far too often, tourism money does not recirculate in the local economy or provide any benefit to the local people or environment. Tourism businesses can grow the local economy by spending on local goods and services and procuring services and products locally. We are looking for businesses that have local purchasing practices in place and are actively working to create and promote local businesses and sole traders through their own supply chain and encouraging visitors to buy locally produced crafts and souvenirs.

Gold: Community Homestay Network (Nepal)

Community Homestay Nepal is a social enterprise that partners with local communities across Nepal to offer culturally immersive homestay experiences. It operates through a network of family-run accommodations, primarily managed by women, and promotes sustainable tourism by directing income toward local development. It is recognised for building a community-first supply chain that keeps tourism spend local, working with 50 communities to offer 40 community homestays and 10 artisan-led experiences. The Community Homestay Network’s revenue-sharing model channels 80% of homestay income to families and 20% to community funds, turning every booking into local investment. In the past year, it generated US$139,024for communities and welcomed 7,900 travellers across 28 communities converting visitor spend into shared prosperity. It has trained more than 2,000 local hosts and experience providers and developed partnerships with organisations such as Planeterra and USAID strengthening homestays and market access. Community Homestay Network scales quality while multiplying livelihoods. The judges were impressed with the replicability aspect of the project and the market linkages with different organisations to create a sustainable future for the local communities involved in the tourism enterprises.

Silver: Intrepid Tours India Pvt Ltd (India)

In markets, homestays, and workshops across India, Intrepid Tours India Pvt Ltd made a simple promise: buy local, hire local, empower local. That promise became 990+ trips and 135,000 room nights, with more than 80% of operational spend staying in the communities that host their travellers. In Varanasi, Intrepid Tours encouraged women drivers. Holy City Rickshaw put 15 new e-rickshaw drivers on the road and is steering toward 50 by 2030. On the coast at Kovalam,  a partnership with Positive Change for Marine Life cleared 10 tonnes of waste, turned 12.5 tonnes of organic waste into fertilizer, and created work for 140 local women and youth.

Silver: Six Degree Adventures (India)

From the living root bridges of Meghalaya to the temple paths of Kamakhya in Guwahati, tour operator Six Degree Adventures turns every tour into a community marketplace: a binding local-sourcing policy; homestays and indigenous guides; village co-ops like Maozigendri; and artisans onboarded through NEHHDC (North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation) with direct digital payments that keep earnings at the source. “Kamakhya Walks” converts transit nights into livelihoods and is Guwahati’s top-rated experience; “Nagaland on Foot” builds off-season income. Over 120 people about half women now earn directly, while small groups, refill stations, and plastic-free treks protect fragile places. Tourism that buys local, honours local, and grows local.   

One to Watch: Dream Acres Farm Homestay (India)

Dream Acres Farm Homestay has trained and employed around 30 local women, supporting five families in hospitality and farm work, and collaborating with village farmers and artisans to produce and sell value-added products like pickles, spice blends, and nutmeg syrup; achieving 30% annual growth in farm product revenue. The project minimizes economic leakage by sourcing materials and labour locally and encourages guests to purchase and experience these local goods and services. Its genuine focus on enterprise development and direct community benefit aligns well with the core aims of local sourcing.  The judges feel that this can be a replicable model for small enterprises with expansion protential to increase local sourcing and support local employment and livelihood.

PEACE, UNDERSTANDING & INCLUSION RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

Tourism has the power to bridge divides, foster cultural understanding, and create opportunities for peace and inclusion. The Award for Peace, Understanding & Inclusion recognises outstanding initiatives that use tourism as a force for good – promoting cross-cultural exchange, providing economic alternatives in conflict-affected regions, and making travel more inclusive for all.

Gold: Better Life Foundation Nagaland (India)

The Better Life Foundation has created a peacebuilding-led, culture-centred model that builds trust through regenerative farming and then introduces tourism with ex-insurgents trained as guides, turning fear into shared pride and livelihood. Evidence is substantive: 13 ex-insurgents have beentrained as guides, 389 women-led self-help groups are now active, and more than 4,500 marginalised families report a three to ten multiple gain in income. Ownership of community farms and homestays has been transferred to locals. More than, 2,100 tourists have been hosted, and festivals have drawn 16,000 attendees. The result is measurable social cohesion and women’s economic inclusion in a formerly volatile setting. While scale remains local and cross-region replication is early, the proof of concept is clear, the judges felt this was an exemplar of tourism advancing peace and dignity.

Silver: Karikot Village Village, UP Tourism (India)

The judges recognized a border-village model that turns cultural revival into measurable inclusion. More than 60 villagers (with strong participation from women and youth) are now earning a steady income through homestays, guiding, crafts, and food enterprises. The village has welcomed 60,000 visitors on community-led experiences since 2024. The project has trained 40 local people in hospitality, guiding, digital skills, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and  it curates the MAATIR Residency and Howlfest events to bring Tharu, Awadhi, Hindu, and Sikh communities together. Governance by self-help groups, the Gram Panchayat, and youth anchors local ownership and equitable benefit-sharing; positioning Kari-Kot as a credible, cross-border example of tourism advancing coexistence and shared pride.

The ICRT Indian Subcontinent Judging Panel

The judges of the Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards were Professor Harold Goodwin, Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership and Founder of ICRT global, Manisha Pande Managing Director Village Ways and ICRT Indian Subcontinent, Charmarie Maelge, Director of ICRT Sri Lanka.  ICRT India Foundation member judges included Kumar Anubhav Founder NotOnMap , Dr. Aditi Choudhary Professor at Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Swati Pramar  Senior Technical Expert Social Management Framework and Gender under NRETP (Govt. of Madhya Pradesh), Manoj Kumar Singh, Madhya Pradesh and Rupesh Kumar, CEO Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission, Govt of Kerala.

International judges included ICRT Southeast Asia representatives Dr Lenny Yusira, Associate Professor in Ecotourism at Universitas Asa Indonesia and Kevin Phun Director at the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore, together with Debbie Hindle chair of ICRT global.

Picture credits via Pexels: Lara Jameson, Suket Dedhia, Sparsh Karki, Yehan Ashoka, Vijay Richhiya, Saleon Quiney and Anusree GS.