TOFT (Travel Operators for Tigers) hosts the 8th Annual TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards at Bikaner House, New Delhi, bringing together leaders, conservationists, policymakers, and changemakers shaping the future of sustainable tourism across the Indian subcontinent. The 2025 edition was themed “Rewilding Tourism: Sustaining Nature, Empowering Communities,” spotlighting exemplary efforts that are redefining nature-positive and regenerative tourism practices.
The ceremony saw participation from state tourism officials, conservation experts, lodge owners, naturalists, photographers, community enterprises, and responsible travel advocates, all united by a shared commitment to ensuring tourism actively contributes to wildlife protection, habitat restoration, and community wellbeing.
From pioneering sustainability innovations to community-driven conservation models, this year’s winners and finalists demonstrated how thoughtfully managed nature tourism can serve as a powerful tool for ecological restoration, rural livelihoods, and long-term stewardship of India’s natural heritage.
Established in 2010, the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards have grown into one of the most respected platforms recognising excellence in sustainable tourism. By honouring organisations and individuals across diverse categories, TOFT continues to inspire the wider industry to adopt responsible practices that protect wildlife, safeguard ecosystems, and strengthen local communities.
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Mr. Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary Asia and Founder of the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. Drawing on over four decades of conservation experience, he highlighted the vital role of responsible tourism in building conservation awareness, supporting livelihoods, and fostering long-term ecological stewardship. He also paid tribute to the late Mr. Valmik Thapar, remembering his enduring legacy in Indian wildlife conservation.
Reflecting on lessons from Gir and other wilderness landscapes, Mr. Sahgal emphasised climate instability as one of the greatest threats facing wildlife and human wellbeing alike. He urged the tourism and conservation community to champion models that restore ecosystems, reduce pressure on natural habitats, and reconnect younger generations with India’s natural heritage.
The 2025 TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards reinforced a shared message: the choices made today in tourism, conservation, and land use will shape the future of India’s forests, wildlife, and the communities intrinsically linked to them.
