SRINAGAR: SAGG Eco Village from Kashmir has been awarded the Silver Award at the ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards 2025, held at the BLTM in New Delhi. This marks the first time an initiative from Kashmir has been recognised on such an international platform for its pioneering work in climate action and responsible tourism.
Founded by Fayaz Ahmad Dar, SAGG Eco Village is Jammu and Kashmir’s first regenerative eco-village enterprise. Located in Ganderbal, it has transformed barren land into a thriving model of sustainability by blending farm stays, ecological entrepreneurship, and community-based tourism.
The ICRT Awards recognise outstanding tourism initiatives across South Asia that prioritise responsibility, inclusivity, and innovation. SAGG Eco Village was honoured for its regenerative practices, its role in strengthening the local economy, and its focus on climate resilience — demonstrating how tourism, when designed responsibly, can restore ecosystems and empower communities.
Accepting the award, Fayaz Ahmad Dar said: “At SAGG Eco Village, tourism is not about consuming places — it’s about regenerating land, livelihoods, and lives. Every guest who walks through our orchards, eats from our soil, or stays in our cottages becomes part of this regenerative journey. This award is not just for us — it belongs to the land and people of Kashmir, whose resilience and wisdom make such work possible.”
SAGG Eco Village continues to position itself as a living example of ecological entrepreneurship and regenerative tourism in fragile geographies. Through farm stays, immersive retreats, eco-products, and community engagement, the initiative seeks to reconnect people with nature and culture while regenerating soil, water, and livelihoods.
This recognition places SAGG Eco Village among South Asia’s most impactful tourism enterprises and underscores Kashmir’s potential to lead in the global movement for regenerative futures.
