India was the standout destination at this year’s awards, emerging as a "leading country for responsible tourism" according to an international panel of judges, who came together remotely to determine the top achievements.
First launched in 2004, the awards recognise and reward businesses, destinations and operations contributing to a more sustainable and tourism industry.
Categories span efforts to decarbonise, support local employment and communities, boost diversity and inclusion, reduce plastic waste, and contribute to local economies.
For a second successive year, there was also a building back better post-Covid award.
This year’s global award winners were selected from the best of the entries from India and the rest of the world awards, along with the best of those already entered for Africa and Latin America.
- Decarbonising travel and tourism
Global award: Govardhan Village, Maharashtra, India
Govardhan Village is a model farm community harnessing alternative technologies, which hosts residential conferences and study programmes, attracting in excess of 50,000 annual tourists. It is a zero emissions community, with energy supplied by 210kW of solar panels, a biogas plant converting cow dung and other wet waste into energy and a pyrolysis plant processing plastic waste into light diesel oil and electricity. Energy monitoring, meanwhile, allows Govardhan to save the equivalent of around 13% of its energy production. Soil bio-tech plants, meanwhile, process sewage water into greywater used for irrigation, while the harvested rainwater supply lasts for several months beyond the rainy season.
- Sustaining employees and communities through the pandemic
Global award: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
The V&A Waterfront is a mixed-use facility supporting the arts and design, as entrepreneurship and innovation, with a view to driving sustainable practices and positive social and economic change. Employment has grown by nearly 4% annually during the pandemic. In December last year, the operation launched the Makers Landing food community, celebrating South Africa’s diverse food culture. A share incubator kitchen, demo kitchen, eight production station, a market with 35 flexible-use stands, eight small co-op eateries and five anchor restaurants allowed early-stage entrepreneurs access to resources and the wider catering industry. In addition to 17 small anchor businesses, 84 new jobs and eight new businesses have been created, 70% of which are black-owned and 33% female-led. The judges said they were particularly impressed by their innovative approach and dogged determination to continue to grow opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalised communities.
- Destinations building back better post-Covid
Global award: Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Rural Tourism Programme, India
The judges were impressed by Madhya Pradesh’s ambition to draw on learning from others, such as the Responsible Tourism Mission in Kerala, to accelerate its own community efforts. The programme will be implemented in 100 villages over a three-year period, aiming to give tourists authentic rural experiences such as bullock cart rides, taking part in farming projects and cultural events, and staying in homestays that provide employment. Other skills being delivered span cooking, health, hygiene, accounting, housekeeping, guiding, photography and blogging, while local traders and artisans have been engaged to develop and promote responsible souvenir programmes. A commitment to inclusion is central to the programme, which engages people irrespective of their social and/or economic situation.
- Increasing diversity in tourism
Global award: No Footprints, Mumbai, India
No footprints curates niche travel experiences for visitors. Over the past six year, it has created 22 different Mumbai experiences and is expanding to Delhi. Its aim is to introduce travellers to the history, culture and diverse communities living in both cities. Experiences include dawn walks, street food and market tours, art and cookery workshops, heritage cycle tours, introductions to cricket. and opportunities to learn more about the city’s queer culture. The judges said they were impressed by the breadth and diversity of experiences offered by No Footprints, providing a genuine insight into contemporary life in Mumbai.
- Reducing plastic waste
Global award: Six Senses, Laamu, Maldives
- Growing local economic benefit
Global award: Village Ways, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
