India And Nepal Set To Showcase Nature-Positive Travel At TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025

Published on December 17, 2025

India and Nepal appeared as major representatives of nature-positive tourism at the eighth TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025, taking place in New Delhi where conservation, community and conscious travel were the highlights. The event organized by TOFT Tigers at Bikaner House praised tourism projects that bring not only customers but also actively restoring landscapes, shielding wildlife, and uplifting rural communities throughout the subcontinent.

With the theme Rewilding Tourism: Sustaining Nature, Empowering Communities, the awards reflected a decisive shift in how wildlife travel is being shaped away from extractive sightseeing and towards regenerative, experience-led journeys that leave destinations healthier than before.

Tourism that gives back to nature

The annual awards, established in 2010, have steadily grown into one of South Asia’s most influential platforms recognising excellence in sustainable tourism. This year’s winners demonstrated how thoughtfully designed wildlife travel can become a frontline tool for conservation from eco-sensitive lodges and community-run homestays to tour operators reimagining slow, immersive journeys.

State tourism officials, conservationists, lodge owners, naturalists, photographers and grassroots enterprises gathered with a shared belief that tourism, when done right, can help secure the future of forests, rivers and wildlife corridors while creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.

A keynote rooted in conservation realities

The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary Asia and Founder of the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. Drawing from decades of conservation experience, he reflected on how responsible tourism can deepen ecological awareness and create allies for conservation among travellers.

He also paid tribute to the late Valmik Thapar, noting indirectly that his legacy continues to guide India’s conservation movement. Climate instability, he suggested, remains one of the most urgent threats to wildlife and human wellbeing, making nature-positive tourism models more relevant than ever.

Eco-lodges redefining the wildlife stay

Across multiple categories, eco-lodges stood out for blending comfort with conservation. From Spice Village in Kerala and Denwa Backwater Escape in Madhya Pradesh to Brij Pola Jawai in Rajasthan, winners showed how architecture rooted in local traditions, renewable energy, organic farming and community partnerships can enhance the traveller experience while reducing environmental impact.

These properties are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right, places where guests learn about indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and coexistence rather than simply passing through landscapes.

Community-led travel gains recognition

One of the strongest travel narratives to emerge from the awards was the rise of community-driven wildlife tourism. Initiatives such as the Godwar Raika Camel Breeders in Rajasthan and ChigDil Rumbak Homestays in Ladakh illustrated how tourism income can reinforce traditional livelihoods while encouraging stewardship of fragile ecosystems.

Similarly, homestays in Kashmir, Odisha and Ladakh demonstrated that small-scale, locally owned accommodation can deliver deeply authentic travel experiences while keeping economic benefits within villages.

Guides, naturalists and conservation champions

By honouring wildlife guides, naturalists and forest guards, the awards highlighted the people who shape travellers’ understanding of nature on the ground. From bird guides in Bharatpur to women breaking barriers in Tadoba and community leaders in Nepal, these individuals were recognised for transforming safaris into educational, empathetic journeys.

Their work underscores how skilled interpretation and storytelling can foster respect for wildlife, influence visitor behaviour and build long-term support for conservation.

Destinations setting national benchmarks

At a destination level, Satpura Tiger Reserve was named Visitor Friendly Wildlife National Park of the Year, reflecting its low-impact tourism model that includes walking safaris, canoeing and community engagement. Meanwhile, Sikkim received the award for Best State for Sustainable Wildlife Tourism, recognised for protecting fragile Himalayan ecosystems through community-led, low-density travel.

These destinations illustrate how policy, planning and local participation can work together to create tourism that supports conservation rather than undermines it.

A hopeful path for wildlife travel

As the ceremony concluded, the underlying message was clear: wildlife tourism is no longer just about seeing animals, but about shaping futures. The awardees collectively demonstrated that travellers are increasingly seeking journeys that align with their values, experiences that contribute to conservation, celebrate culture and leave a positive footprint.

In recognising these efforts, the TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025 reinforced a hopeful vision for travel in India and Nepal, one where tourism becomes a partner in rewilding landscapes, empowering communities and ensuring that nature remains at the heart of every journey.