Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Project Bags Coveted Global Award

Kerala has won the prestigious Global Responsible Tourism Award 2023, a significant affirmation of the state's Responsible Tourism Mission's (RTM) effective sustainable and women-inclusive programmes.

What's It About?

The award is given in the Best for Local Sourcing, Food and Craft category by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT).

The State RT Mission was chosen for the award, which is presented for sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives, connecting women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tourism operations, and guaranteeing effective marketing of indigenous products.

Kerala RTM was chosen as a joint winner by the London-based organisers, along with Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa known for its eco-friendly Ngwenya Glass. “This international award reflects the universal appeal of the responsible tourism projects that Kerala has successfully implemented, thereby setting a viable model for the rest of India as well as other countries,” Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said. “The crux of this model is that it helps conserve nature and tangible and intangible heritage, while bringing substantial benefits to local communities,” the Minister added.

Women-Centric And Local

With the support of UN Women, the UN institution dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment, Kerala RT Mission has been conducting a women-friendly tourism project in the state. This is Kerala RTM's second Responsible Tourism Global Award, following the recognition of its Water STREET initiative in Maravanthuruthu, Kottayam district, last year. RTM completes a hat-trick this year, having already received two important awards: the 'Gold' award from the Government of India and the 'Gold' award from ICRT.

With solo or group travel by women on the rise, the tourism department of Kerala has also initiated a Women-Friendly Tourism project under their Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission) umbrella. The focus will be on making travel safe and hygienic for women.

Village Tourism With Sustainable Focus

It is in the villages of Kerala that sustainability comes into action and is practically a way of life. To get a glimpse of this village life experience, the department has thoughtfully designed Experiential Tourism Packages for visitors to the state. Read more about it here.

This is Kerala RTM's second Responsible Tourism Global Award, following the recognition of its Water STREET initiative in Maravanthuruthu, Kottayam district, last year. Kerala Tourism won the coveted Responsible Tourism Global Award at London World Travel Mart in 2022 for the project.

RTM completes a hat-trick this year, having already received two important awards: the 'Gold' award from the Government of India and the 'Gold' award from ICRT. In September 2023, in a boost for rural tourism, Kerala's Kanthalloor Village had received the prestigious 'Gold' award from the Government of India for its exceptional efforts in implementing the STREET tourism project. This initiative is part of the State Responsible Tourism Mission's endeavours to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism.