Gold wins for Heel Oya Village, Jetwing Vil Uyana and Heritance Kandalama at Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards 2025

Heel Oya Community Tourism Village

Every year, the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) recognises responsible tourism changemakers around the world with regional and global awards. The prestigious Responsible Tourism Awards have been a hallmark of global recognition for best practices in responsible tourism and aim to recognise and promote sustainable, ethical, and innovative practices in the tourism sector. The six award categories for 2025 include responsible all-inclusive, adapting to climate change, increasing local sourcing, encouraging peace, understanding and inclusivity, managing waste and delivering nature positive tourism. Innovative homestays, hotels, village communities, tourist boards, tour operators and regenerative agricultural and conservation organisations are among the winners of the Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards. 

Sri Lanka won three gold awards at the Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism presented at the Business and Leisure Travel Mart conference in New Delhi on 13 September. Heel Oya Community Based Tourism Village for All-Inclusive Responsible Tourism Award, Heritance Kandalama, for Climate Adaptation and Resilience Responsible Tourism Award and Jetwing Vil Uyana, for Gold Nature Positive Responsible Tourism Award.  

Heel Oya offers immersive community-based tourism experiences, including trekking, local cooking, and homestays. A dual pricing system ensures affordability for locals and tourists, with student discounts. The village emphasises inclusivity, involving women, youth, and differently abled visitors in tourism activities. Additionally, 20% of income goes into a Community Development Fund to support education and infrastructure. Heel Oya preserves traditional knowledge, fosters unity, and creates sustainable livelihoods while offering authentic cultural exchange. Judges recognised it as an exemplary model of regenerative, community-centred tourism.

Heritance Kandalama, a luxury hotel, embraces climate adaptation through reforestation, sustainable architecture, and community integration. Over 200 acres of land have been reforested with native species, enhancing biodiversity. The hotel minimises environmental impact with green roofs, passive cooling, and biomass energy sourced from local villages. More than 50% of staff are local, and the hotel runs an in-house training school for sustainable livelihoods. Judges praised Heritance Kandalama for its proven climate resilience and leadership in integrating ecological and community goals.

Heritance Kandalama

Jetwing Vil Uyana, near Sigiriya, exemplifies nature-positive tourism by transforming degraded agricultural land into a biodiverse wetland. The resort supports over 300 species and implements sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting and solar energy. Its Loris Conservation Project provides wildlife education without disturbing ecosystems. Judges commended its ecosystem regeneration efforts and robust visitor education programs. Independent research confirms the resort’s significant environmental impact, making it a leading model in sustainable tourism that could deepen community engagement for broader conservation outcomes.

Other Gold awardees were Six Senses Laamu, for Nature Positive Responsible Tourism, Community Homestay Network, Nepal, for increasing local sourcing and Better Life Foundation, Nagaland, India, for Peace and Inclusivity. There were many others who won several Silver and one to watch awards. 

The judges of the Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards were Responsible Tourism Partnership Managing Director and ICRT Global Founder Professor Harold Goodwin, Village Ways Managing Director and ICRT India Director Manisha Pande, and ICRT Sri Lanka Director Charmarie Maelge. International judges included ICRT Southeast Asia representatives: Universitas Asa Indonesia Associate Professor in Ecotourism Dr. Lenny Yusira and Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore Director Kevin Phun, together with ICRT Global Chairperson Debbie Hindle. The judges found an incredible range of innovative ideas, all backed with clear evidence of impact and urged any organisation, anywhere in the world to be inspired by the outstanding 2025 winners.

According to ICRT Sri Lanka Director Charmarie Maelge, “This is a remarkable achievement for Sri Lanka and an excellent opportunity to showcase its unique approach to responsible tourism on a global stage. Being recognised with such a prestigious international award provides a valuable marketing edge to enhance Sri Lanka’s reputation as a leading sustainable tourism destination.”

All Indian Subcontinent Tourism Award Gold winners automatically go onto contend for a 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Award sponsored by Sabre and will compete on a world stage against winners from Latin America, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia which will be held during the World Travel Market in the UK in November.

Jetwing Vil Uyana