Awards to be presented in 10 categories, from hotels and tour operators to homestays, eco-tourism, adventure tourism and social media; each winner to receive ₹11,000 and a memento
Last date for applications is September 15, 2026; eligible individuals and organisations can send applications to it@visitcg.in
Raipur, August 2026: With the objective of giving tourism in Chhattisgarh a new identity, encouraging outstanding work by tourism-related entrepreneurs, organisations and individuals, and promoting the development, conservation and publicity of tourist destinations across the state, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board will present the ‘World Tourism Day Awards 2026’.
Under the awards programme, outstanding contributors from across the tourism sector will be recognised, including hotels, registered tour operators, districts, tourism startups, resorts, tourist information centres, homestays, social media influencers, eco-tourism sites and adventure tourism operators.
A total of 10 awards will be presented under the scheme, with one winner selected in each category. Every winner will receive a cash prize of ₹11,000 along with a memento. The last date for submitting applications is September 15, 2026.
Focus on the Entire Tourism Ecosystem
A key feature of the ‘World Tourism Day Awards 2026’ is that the initiative does not limit recognition to tourist destinations alone. It covers a wide range of activities associated with tourism, including hospitality, tour operations, district-level tourism management, entrepreneurship, resort services, tourist assistance, homestays, digital promotion, environmental conservation and adventure tourism.
The 10 award categories are:
- Best Hotel
- Best Registered Tour Operator
- Best District Tourism Promotion Award
- Best Tourism Startup/Entrepreneurship Award
- CTB Star Performer – Best Resort
- CTB Star Performer – Tourist Information Centre
- Best Homestay
- Best Social Media Influencer
- Best Eco-Tourism Site Award
- Best Adventure Tourism Award
Recognition for Better Services and Innovation
The Best Hotel category will recognise a tourism enterprise that provides impressive services and facilities in the state’s hospitality sector. Evaluation will consider factors such as MICE facilities, financial performance during the previous financial year, annual turnover and the number of events organised. Contributions towards tourism promotion, sustainable tourism, CSR activities and employment generation will also be taken into account.
Similarly, the Best Registered Tour Operator will be selected on the basis of effective management of accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, entertainment and other tourism activities, along with efforts to promote Chhattisgarh as a tourism destination.
Participation in national and international events, promotion of tourism through itineraries and promotional material, and effective use of websites and social media will also form part of the assessment.
Award for Outstanding District-Level Tourism Development
Under the Best District Tourism Promotion Award, the district that has demonstrated outstanding performance in overall tourism development, promotion, destination management and increasing the number of domestic and international tourists will be selected.
The evaluation will also cover cleanliness at tourist destinations, waste management, availability of dustbins, solid and liquid waste management, green initiatives, nature-based activities, agriculture and rural lifestyles, culture, fisheries, unique tourist experiences and employment generation through tourism.
Platform for Young Entrepreneurs and Tourism Startups
The Best Tourism Startup/Entrepreneurship Award has been introduced to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the tourism sector.
The award will recognise startups and individual entrepreneurs who have given a new direction to Chhattisgarh’s tourism sector through innovative and exemplary initiatives.
The category will encourage new ideas, technologies, services and business models that make tourism more attractive, convenient and competitive.
Recognition for Resorts and Tourist Information Centres
Under the two CTB Star Performer categories, resorts in the premium and budget segments operated by the Tourism Board that demonstrate outstanding performance, as well as tourist information centres that achieve notable booking performance, will be recognised.
The Best Resort category will consider parameters such as turnover, profitability and occupancy percentage. Tourist information centres will be assessed on their performance in facilitating bookings for tourists throughout the year.
The awards aim to encourage better services, customer satisfaction, efficient operations and efforts to promote tourism businesses through the Tourism Board’s facilities.
Promoting Local Economies Through Homestays
The Best Homestay category will assess factors such as revenue generated from domestic tourism, annual growth rate, number of bookings and the number of domestic tourists hosted.
Facilities provided to tourists, customer reviews, grievance redressal mechanisms, facilities for tourists with disabilities and the unique concept of the homestay will also be considered.
Special emphasis will be placed on efforts to connect local communities with tourism, promote local products and cuisine, and create employment and income opportunities in rural areas through homestays.
Award for Digital Promotion of Chhattisgarh Tourism
Recognising the growing importance of social media, the Best Social Media Influencer category has also been included.
Content creators who promote Chhattisgarh’s tourism at the national and international level through reels, videos and other digital content based on the state’s tourist destinations will be recognised.
The reach of content on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, performance over the previous three years and, where available, business-related details will form part of the evaluation.
The initiative is expected to encourage content creators who effectively showcase Chhattisgarh’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, tribal life, historical sites, wildlife, adventure activities and other tourism attractions through digital platforms.
Special Priority to Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Conservation
The Best Eco-Tourism Site Award will recognise projects promoting environment-friendly and sustainable tourism. The project must be located in Chhattisgarh and must have been operational for at least two years.
Priority will be given to initiatives involving renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, participation of local communities—particularly tribal and rural populations—and conservation of local flora, fauna and natural resources.
Projects that create livelihood opportunities for local communities through eco-tourism and establish a balance between environmental conservation and tourism will also receive special consideration.
Recognition for Adventure Tourism
The Best Adventure Tourism Award will be presented to an outstanding operator conducting camping and other adventure activities in Chhattisgarh.
Key evaluation criteria will include destination management, the number of domestic and international tourists, initiatives to promote adventure tourism and revenue generated through such activities.
Efforts to provide tourists with safe and high-quality adventure experiences, develop new adventure tourism products and promote Chhattisgarh’s natural destinations as adventure tourism hubs will also be considered.
Applications Open Until September 15
The application process has been prescribed for all award categories. Interested individuals, organisations and eligible stakeholders from the tourism sector can submit their entries via email to it@visitcg.in.
Application forms are available on the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board website at https://tourism.cgstate.gov.in/. The last date for submitting applications is September 15, 2026.
Applications will be evaluated by the State Tourism Department/selection committee according to the prescribed criteria. Entries in each category will be assessed on the basis of eligibility requirements and evaluation parameters specified for that category.
Encouraging Excellence and Giving Chhattisgarh Tourism a New Identity
Through the ‘World Tourism Day Awards 2026’, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board is seeking to recognise excellence in the tourism sector while promoting healthy competition, innovation, sustainable tourism and quality services.
Along with economic performance, the awards place importance on cleanliness, sustainable tourism, local community participation, employment generation, digital promotion, environmental conservation and efforts to provide visitors with a better tourism experience.
The initiative will provide hotels, resorts, homestays, tour operators, startups, districts, tourist information centres, content creators and adventure tourism operators an opportunity to showcase their achievements.
It is also expected to contribute to presenting Chhattisgarh’s natural, cultural and adventure tourism potential more effectively at the national and international levels.
