TOFT Hosts 8th Annual Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025

Rewilding Tourism: Sustaining Nature, Empowering Communities

The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter

TOFT (Travel Operators for Tigers India) successfully hosted the 8th Annual TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards at Bikaner House, New Delhi, bringing together leaders and changemakers shaping the future of sustainable tourism across the Indian subcontinent.

The 2025 ceremony, themed “Rewilding Tourism: Sustaining Nature, Empowering Communities,” celebrated exemplary efforts in conservation-focused tourism and recognised organisations and individuals setting new benchmarks for regenerative, nature-positive practices.

A Collective Vision for Conservation

The evening witnessed participation from state tourism officials, conservationists, lodge owners, naturalists, photographers, community enterprises, and responsible travel advocates, united by a shared commitment to ensuring tourism actively contributes to:

Wildlife protection
Habitat restoration
Community livelihoods
Long-term ecological stewardship

From pioneering sustainability innovations to community-led conservation models, the 2025 finalists and winners demonstrated how well-managed nature tourism can be a powerful force for ecological restoration and rural empowerment.

Legacy of the TOFT Awards

Established in 2010, the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards have grown steadily in prominence and industry impact, offering meaningful recognition to those demonstrating excellence in sustainable tourism. Through these awards, TOFT continues to inspire wider adoption of practices that protect wildlife, safeguard habitats, and strengthen resilient ecosystems across India and the region.

Keynote Address

The ceremony featured Mr. Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary Asia and Founder of the Sanctuary Nature Foundation, as the Keynote Speaker.

Drawing on over four decades of conservation experience, Mr. Sahgal underscored:

The critical role of responsible tourism in conservation awareness
The importance of supporting local livelihoods
The urgent need for ecological restoration amid climate instability

He also paid tribute to the late Mr. Valmik Thapar, one of India’s most respected wildlife conservationists, whose legacy continues to inspire generations.

Reflecting on lessons from Gir and other wilderness landscapes, Mr. Sahgal emphasised that forests, wildlife, and the communities protecting them are life-support systems for our collective future, urging the sector to reconnect younger generations with India’s natural heritage.

TOFT Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025 – Winners

1. John Wakefield Memorial Award – Most Inspirational Eco Lodge of the Year 2025

PUG – Outstanding Category

Winner: Spice Village, A CGH Earth Experience – Thekkady, Kerala
Runner-Up: Svasara Jungle Lodge at Tadoba – Maharashtra

PUG – Quality Category

Winner: Denwa Backwater Escape Lodge – Satpura NP, Madhya Pradesh
Runner-Up: Brij Pola Jawai – Jawai, Rajasthan

FOOTPRINT Category (Non-Wildlife)

Winner (Quality): After the Rains, Rainforest Lodge – Wayanad, Kerala
Winner (Outstanding): Hotel Barahi – Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Lodge Naturalist of the Year 2025

(Sponsored by Jungle Camps India)

Joint Winners:
- Shubham Alave – Bori Safari Lodge, Madhya Pradesh
- Shaik Shaheen – Waghoba Eco Lodge, Tadoba, Maharashtra
Joint Runners-Up:
- Tek Mahato – Barahi Jungle Lodge, Nepal
- Namrata Bhandari – Baghvan, A Taj Safari, Madhya Pradesh