presents

Indian Responsible Tourism
State summit & Awards 2024

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OUR STORY

Over the last 10 years, we at the Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative have been celebrating an alternative imagination of travel that is both people- and earth-friendly. Outlook’s Indian Responsible Tourism Awards (IRTA) is a vital part of our philosophy - to recognise, celebrate and empower the individuals and organisations that are doing extraordinary work, often in the face of adversity, to future-proof travel by embracing sustainability and climate-friendly practices, while making our journeys and experiences joyful and easy on the planet.

We are a UN Tourism affiliate member and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council is our knowledge partner. Over the years, we have built a community of 5,000+ members and partnered with 20+ states and positively impacted 3,500+ stakeholders through our outreach and upskilling programs.The Indian Responsible Tourism Awards – National and State – are known for their formidable line-up of judges, and a thorough and transparent judging process which is is both intensive and rigorous. Our jury are tourism stalwarts who are familiar with our country’s unique set of challenges, and bring to the table their knowledge of global best practices.

WE HOPE…

To continue celebrating our 200 + national and state award winners and build, inspire, support and amplify the voices of a vast network of responsible tourism stakeholders across all states and union territories of India.


IRTSA meghalaya

The Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards are a natural progression of our core philosophy - to reach out to every last district in our country, and include more people in our tribe! Small business owners, entrepreneurs, start-ups, cultural icons and anyone else who believes – like we do – in an alternative imagination of travel.

After the tremendous success of IRTSA Meghalaya in 2024, we are incredibly excited to announce that we’re partnering with the Government of Meghalaya once again to host IRTA 2024! We look forward to recognising and celebrating the incredible work being done in Meghalaya and tell their stories to India and the world! We invite you to come and celebrate Meghalaya with us on this World Tourism Day!

Award Categories

Sustainable leadership

Homestays
B&Bs & guesthouses
travel Enterprises

Sustainable experiences

Food
Architecture

Sustainability Champions

Grassroots Heroes Grassroots Heroes
Cultural Ambassasors

JURY

Dr Benjamin F Lyngdoh

Associate Professor, Tourism & Hotel Management, North-Eastern Hill University

Denis P Rayen

Proprietor, Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort

Malika Virdi

Founder-Director, Himalayan Ark, Munsiari & Former Sarpanch, Sarmoli-Jainti Van Panchayat

Pius Ranee

Executive Director, North East Slow Food Agrobiodiversity Society

Raj Basu

Co-founder, Help Tourism, & Advisor, Rural Tourism & Homestay's, NE States, Myanmar, Bhutan & Nepal

Prof. Streamlet Dkhar

Head, Department of Khasi NEHU


IRTsA meghalaya - venue and date

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  • 27 september

  • 10 am onwards

Event Agenda

  • 09:30 - 10:00
    Registrations, Tea/Coffee and Networking
  • 10:00 - 10:15
    Opening Ceremony and Presentation by the Outlook Group
    Sonali Chatterjee, Project Consultant, Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative
  • 10:15 - 10:45
    Session 1: Experiential Tourism & Storytelling - What's Unique in Your Backyard
    Maria Victor, Founder & CEO, & Murali Shankaran, Co-Founder, Make it Happen
  • 10:45 - 11:15
    Session 2: Astro Tourism - The Stargazing Experience
    Simar Preet Kaur, Lead, Astrostays
  • 11:15 - 11:45
    Session 3: Food Tourism - Reimagining Local Food
    Nilza Wangmo, Founder, Alchi Kitchen
  • 11:45 - 12:15
    Session 4: Immersive Wildlife Experiences - Wild About All Things Small & Beautiful
    Sanjay Sondhi, Founder & Trustee, Titli Trust
  • 12:15 - 12.30
    Q&A
  • 12.30 - 13:30
    Lunch
  • 13:30 - 14:00
    Keynote Address: Water & the Power of Collective Action
    Dr Rajendra Singh, Magsaysay Awardee, Stockholm Water Award Winner, Jal Purush, Waterman of India
  • 14:00 - 14:15
    Q&A
  • 14:15 - 14:30
    Cultural Programme
    Ahowee, Silver winner, IRTSA Meghalaya 2023
  • 14:30 - 14:45
    Setting the Stage for IRTSA Meghalaya
    Indranil Roy, CEO, Outlook Group
  • 14:45 - 15:45
    The Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards: Meghalaya
  • 15:45 - 16:05
    Chief Guest's address
    Shri Paul Lyngdoh, Honourable Tourism Minister of Meghalaya
  • 16:05 - 16:20
    Special Address
    Shri Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Tourism, Meghalaya
  • 16:20 - 16:30
    Vote of thanks
    Shri Cyril D Diengdoh IAS, Director Tourism and Managing Director, MTDC
  • 16:30 - 16:40
    Group Photo
  • *The tentative agenda may be subjected to change.

Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards 2024 – Meghalaya | 2nd Edition Winners

Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards 2023 – Meghalaya | 1st Edition Winners

Magnificent Meghalaya

How can one not feel welcome in a state where every celebration begins with a thanksgiving dance, Noh k jot, and visitors are greeted by a stone carving — two hands embracing a stone — in a a living woodcraft museum (village). Amidst the canyons, mist-covered hills, waterfalls and clear-bottomed rivers live some of the most heartwarming smiles and welcoming arms, who will share with you generations-old folklore about the living root bridges, music from the traditional Dama drums, and bottomless bowls of Jadoh and Pumaloi. Come, experience the magic of magnificent Meghalaya!

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