Sikkim achieved a prestigious national recognition, earning the title “Best State for Sustainable Wildlife Tourism” at the Sanctuary Asia Awards 2025. This global acknowledgement highlights the state’s deep, long-term commitment to combining tourism with rigorous conservation efforts. Furthermore, the award celebrates Sikkim’s distinctive, community-driven tourism model.
TOFT Wildlife and Nature Tourism, in partnership with the Sanctuary Nature Foundation, presented the honour. The State’s Tourism Department Chairman, Norgay Lachungpa, received the award on Sikkim’s behalf. The jury recognized Sikkim’s commitment to responsible tourism, ecosystem protection, and ensuring active community participation. The 2025 awards centered on the theme “Rewilding Tourism.” This theme specifically celebrated initiatives that restore natural habitats while supporting local livelihoods.
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Flagship Initiatives Driving Sikkim Sustainable Wildlife Tourism
The state’s visionary leadership has established Sikkim as a national model in conservation and sustainable tourism. Several flagship initiatives have played a pivotal role in protecting Sikkim’s rich natural heritage:
- Mero Rukh Mero Santati (My Tree, My Child): This initiative promotes planting 108 trees for every newborn child, symbolically linking conservation with new life.
- Mero Bato Mero Bot (My Road, My Tree): This ensures environmental responsibility in infrastructure development.
- State Green Mission: This umbrella initiative focuses on raising avenue plantations and greening all vacant lands.
- A Day for Mother Earth: The annual observance reinforces environmental consciousness at the grassroots level.
- Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project: This major effort strengthens the protection of the state’s diverse ecosystems.
Consequently, these state-led programs create a supportive policy environment. They ensure tourism activities do not harm the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Community and Livelihood Focus
The success of Sikkim Sustainable Wildlife Tourism fundamentally rests on empowering local communities. Sikkim operates on the principle that people living closest to nature must be the primary beneficiaries and custodians of its biodiversity.
The state’s policy encourages local participation. It promotes the establishment of homestays and the training of nature-based guides. Thus, this creates alternative income sources for villagers who previously relied heavily on traditional, often resource-intensive, occupations. The revenue generated through tourism directly supports conservation efforts and local livelihoods. This model ensures that the community has a vested interest in protecting the wildlife and the environment that tourists come to experience.
Global Recognition and Future Direction
This prestigious award places Sikkim firmly on the global map as an exemplary destination for ecotourism. It validates the state’s efforts to achieve a delicate balance between development and conservation.
Sikkim has made notable progress in specialized areas like birding and butterfly tourism. They actively support this growth through specialized training programs for local nature guides. Furthermore, the continued success encourages the State to invest more heavily in green infrastructure and capacity building. The award serves as a powerful endorsement of Sikkim’s commitment to responsible travel. It confirms that the state’s approach to conservation-led tourism is the path forward for the entire Himalayan region.
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