SAGG Eco Village wins 2 prestigious Responsible Tourism Awards

Ganderbal, Mar 5: The Sagg Eco Village, located in Lar, Ganderbal district, has secured two significant awards at the 10th Indian Responsible Tourism Summit and 9th Responsible Tourism Awards (IRTA) 2025 in Gujarat.

Founder Fayaz Ahmed Dar highlighted the village’s groundbreaking achievement as the first ecological enterprise from Kashmir to win multiple awards at the event. The eco-village received a Silver Award in the Sustainable Leadership: BnBs & Guesthouses category and a Gold Award in Sustainability Champions: Grassroots Heroes.

Held on February 22nd during Gujarat’s Rann Utsav, the summit brought together industry leaders, conservationists, and innovators to explore the future of responsible travel. Organised by the Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative, the event emphasized travel’s potential to drive preservation, inclusion, and innovation.

“We have always believed that business, tourism, and nature can thrive together in a regenerative way,” Dar told media. “This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue building a more sustainable future.”

Situated in the foothills of the Sindh River, Sagg Eco Village spans 1.5 acres and embodies sustainable living principles. The complex is a testament to ecological innovation, featuring mud cottages, an organic garden, traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, and eco-friendly infrastructure with soil floors and reed mat decorations that showcase a commitment to zero-waste living.

The awards, organised in collaboration with UN Tourism, recognize pioneers in ethical tourism through a rigorous selection process. Dar emphasized that this is just the beginning of their mission to inspire ecological entrepreneurship and create meaningful change in the tourism industry.