Two Indian companies, both from Maharashtra state, have been recognised as winners at the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 organised by Responsible Travel at World Travel Market London.
The only Indian representatives in a list of 37 finalists across 13 categories, Agri Tourism Development Company based in Pune was named the Gold Winner in the ‘Best for Poverty Reduction’ category, and Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge, in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve was announced as the Silver Winner in the ‘Best for Wildlife Conservation’ category in a special ceremony at World Travel Market London’s Global Stage, as part of the annual WTM World Responsible Tourism Day celebrations. LooLa Adventure Resort, an eco resort on the island of Bintan, Indonesia took the accolade of Overall Winner.
In his journal ‘Progress in Responsible Tourism’ Professor Harold Goodwin, Chair of the judging panel comments on why Agri Tourism Development Company and Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge have been recognised. “Recognising that farm incomes in India have become stagnant in recent years, the Agri Tourism Development Company has worked with 750 farmers in 218 locations across the state of Maharashtra to empower them to diversify into tourism, resulting in a 33 per cent increase in income over and above previous levels. These farmers are now offering packages which give families in India’s urban areas the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of activities from animal feeding and farm walks to festivals, folk dancing and music. The judges were impressed by the scale of the programme and the resulting number of small farmers developing supplementary incomes to raise themselves out of poverty.”
“At Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge tourism has been used to raise the water table and re-wild barren land to create a good habitat for tigers and other species – and for tourists”.
