For The Responsible Traveller

At the heart of Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative's journey is the intent to celebrate trailblazers and unsung heroes of responsible tourism across the country. We hosted the 8th edition of the Outlook Indian Responsible Tourism Summit & Awards amidst the land of the Neelakurinji, in Ooty, on 17th March 2023, in association with the Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu, and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Every year, as we continue to host the Awards, we are reminded of the wind beneath our wings, all the inspiring stories and people, and the wonderful community spirit we're surrounded by. Our speakers and winners are the heroes amongst us, and they inspire us to set higher benchmarks for ourselves. The event was embraced with a heartwarming folk dance by the wonderful ladies of the village of Tarnarmandu, about 30km from Ooty, giving us a glimpse into the life of the indigenous Toda community in the Nilgiris.

K. Ramachandran, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Tamil Nadu, graced us with his presence and shared a heartfelt message on how Tamil Nadu actively integrates local and planet-friendly tourism policies across the state. Dr B. Chandra Mohan, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu, was also present at the event. Sandeep Nanduri, MD, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, shared his thoughts on why Tamil Nadu is committed to promoting responsible tourism and creating value destinations.

The venue for the Summit & Awards, FernHills Royal Palace, was built in 1844. It is the erstwhile summer palace of the Mysore royals. Our guests shared what they valued about India on a message board. And a special immersive experience, 'Sights and Sounds' of India, by the Museum of Art and Photography, was on display at the event.

A session on 'Building Micro-tourism Opportunities in the Northeast' was held with Rita Banerji, Project Director, GreenHub, & Founding Director, Dusty Foot Foundation, Subung Warner Phulari, Manager GreenHub Responsible Tourism Fellowship, and Vivek Kumar Singh and Taju Pujen, GreenHub Responsible Tourism Fellows.

CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Co-Chair for IRTA 2023, spoke about the thorough and transparent adjudication process for the Awards. Indranil Roy, CEO Outlook Group, talked about why the Outlook Group continues to host the Indian Responsible Tourism Summit and Awards year after year to celebrate people and their inspiring journeys.

The evening ended on a high note with the announcement of the Outlook Indian Responsible Tourism Award winners.

Winners' List

Overall Winner

Indi Glow, Arunachal Pradesh

Sustainable Leadership Homestays

Gold - H2O House, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Silver - The Retreat, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand

Silver - Jacob & Klooster Farms, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Ones to Watch - Raptor's Inn, Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan

Ones to Watch - Isoti, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Sustainable Leadership BnBs & Guesthouses

Gold - Ullaar, Lansdowne, Uttarakhand

Silver &ndash Surwahi Social Ecoestate, Kanha, Madhya Pradesh

Silver - Poothali, Kasargod, Kerala

Ones to Watch - Kisan Eco Farm, Thane, Maharashtra

Ones to Watch - Wind Chime, Mulshi, Maharashtra

Sustainable Leadership Hotels

Silver - Bari Kothi, Azimganj, West Bengal

Ones to Watch - The Lodge at Wah, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh

Ones to Watch - Aashraya on the Ganga, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Sustainable Enterprises in Eco-fragile Landscapes

Gold - Unexplored Bastar, Chattisgarh

Silver - Darjeeling Walks, West Bengal

Silver - Make It Happen, Goa, Diu & Tamil Nadu

Ones to Watch - Oddessemania, Northeast India

Ones to Watch - Baswant Honey Bee Park, Maharashtra

Sustainability Champions Grassroots Heroes

Gold - Muzammil Hussain, Ladakh

Silver - Mani Mahesh Aurora, Jammu & Kashmir & Uttarakhand

Silver - Dharmen Momin, Meghalaya

Juror's Award - Anurag Karekar, Maharashtra & the Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Sustainability Champions Pathfinders

Gold - Indi Glow, Arunachal Pradesh

Silver - Lokesh Ohri, Uttarakhand

Silver - Amitava Bhatt