The 2023 edition of the Outlook Traveller Awards was celebrated with much fanfare on Friday, December 8 at ITC Maurya. Master of Ceremonies Aishwarya Singh hosted the awards. The event saw big names from the tourism industry as we celebrated not just the destinations that have left an indelible mark on our hearts but also organisations that are shaping the future of travel. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa, along with many esteemed Principal Secretaries from state tourism departments graced the occasion.

In contemplating the future of travel, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of innovation and sustainability. The industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by technology, changing preferences, and a growing consciousness of the impact of travel on our planet.

This year’s awards highlighted the importance of sustainability and creating new destinations, with the sole focus on the future of travel.

Our sponsors for the event were:

• Outlook Traveller Awards 2023 was Powered By Air India Express

• Community Partner Arth Ganga and Namami Gange

• Our Destination Partners are Gujarat Tourism, Goa Tourism, Himachal Tourism, Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Bodoland Tourism  

• Cruise Partner Norwegian Cruise Line

• Eco Travel Partner NueGo

• Knowledge Partner Toluna

• Celebration Partner Indri

• Gifting Partners: Laneige, Kimirica, Fabelle Chocolates

• Gourmet Snack by: 4700 BC

• Blending Water by: Estuary

A beautiful film from the Outlook Traveller team showcased the beauty of destinations in India and abroad, that captured the essence of travel and what Outlook Traveller stands for—destinations, experiences, and memories.

One of the pivotal themes for the event was the commitment to sustainable tourism. As responsible travellers, we understand the importance of preserving the beauty of our destinations for generations to come. This theme was further explored in the panel: The Way Forward For Sustainable Travel. The panel moderated by Shreya Cheema from Outlook Traveller comprised Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer of Air India Express, Devndra Chawla, CEO & MD of GreenCell Mobility, and Ankush Nijhawan, Co-Founder, TBO.com and Director, Nijhawan Group, as they discussed the future of sustainability in travel.

The next panel, moderated by Outlook Traveller Editor, Anindita Ghosh saw esteemed Principal Secretaries from state tourism departments talk about “Creating New Destinations.” The members of the panel included, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary and MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, K Mehboob Ali Khan, Secretary Tourism & Culture- Administration of UT of Ladakh, Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary- Rajasthan Tourism and Nalin Srivastava, Deputy Director General , National Mission For Clean Ganga. 

A Gujarati cultural dance performance by Ramneek Manch enthralled all, which was followed by a session conducted by Nabiha Tasnim, Project Manager, Outlook Responsible Tourism, with Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C and Printing and Stationary,Government of Goa, on the topic, “Goa Beyond Beaches.”

A special address by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu encouraged us all and acted as a wonderful prelude to the awards ceremony.

He emphasised how Himachal Pradesh is the ideal family vacation destination because of its pristine beauty and safety. “Every type of tourist will find something for themselves in Himachal Pradesh. Night tourism is best enjoyed in Himachal because of how safe our state is. We are planning infrastructure for developing homestays and routes that will facilitate driving through the night. We have expanded our budget from INR 5 cr to INR 3000 cr to develop it as a green state,” he said in his address.

Our winners are: 

Best Wellness Destination in India

• Silver: Kovalam, Kerala

• Gold: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Best Offbeat Destination in India

• Silver: Anini, Arunachal Pradesh

• Gold: Lolab Valley, Jammu & Kashmir

Best Spiritual Destination in India

• Silver: Jagannath Puri, Odisha

• Gold: Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

Best Wildlife Destination in India

• Silver: Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh and Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra

• Gold: Gir National Park, Gujarat

Best Adventure Destination in India

• Silver: Ladakh, for Chadar Trek

• Gold: Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh for Paragliding

Best Majestic Mountain Escape in India

• Silver: Auli, Uttarakhand

• Gold: Zanskar, Ladakh

Best Heritage Destination in India

• Silver: Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu

• Gold: Hampi, Karnataka

Best Festival Destination in India

• Silver: Holi in Braj, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

• Gold: Durga Puja in Kolkata, West Bengal

Best Intra-State Road Trip Route in India

• Silver: Pamban Bridge to Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

• Gold: Amboli to Goa, Goa

Best Beach Destination in India

• Silver: Golden Beach Puri, Odisha

• Gold: Morjim Beach, Goa

Best Wedding Destination in India

• Silver: Andaman

• Gold: Rajasthan

Best Upcoming Destination in India

• Silver: Tura, Garo Hills, Meghalaya

• Gold: Bodoland

Outlook Traveller Best Eco Tourism Destination in India in association with NeuGo in India

• Silver: Thenmala, Kerala

• Gold: Spiti, Snow Leopard Conservation, Himachal Pradesh

The jury comprised seven members who ranged from experts in the travel industry, media professionals, and influencers in a variety of fields. The eminent jury determined the best of the best in travel, combing through the length and breadth of the exhaustive awards categories.

• Jury Chair, G Asok Kumar is Special Secretary and Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. 

• Anand Neelakantan is an acclaimed screenwriter, author, and columnist, and writer of mythological fiction. 

• Satyarup Siddhanta became the youngest mountaineer in the world to have climbed the Seven Summits and the Volcanic Seven Summits in 2019. 

• Colston Julian, is a director and photographer with a star-studded portfolio, having worked with various celebrities and major brands in his career. 

• Shivya Nath is an author, photographer and environmentalist who advises on climate action in tourism and is the co-founder of Voices of Rural India. 

• Shivesh Bhatia is a food blogger and stylist, with over 1.5 million followers on Instagram.

• Anindita Ghosh, Editor of Outlook Traveller has over 20 years of experience in the media industry, with roles in major Indian and international publications.