Nagaland’s BLF Wins Global Tourism Honour in London

LONDON- Nagaland’s Better Life Foundation ( BLF ) has brought rare international recognition to India’s Northeast by securing second place globally in the category of Peace, Understanding & Inclusivity at the ICRT Global Responsible Tourism Awards 2025, held in London and sponsored by Sabre.

The London awards, organised by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), celebrate worldwide initiatives that combine sustainability with social impact. Thirty organisations from five continents were recognised this year for exemplary efforts linking community development with responsible travel.

Earlier in September 2025, BLF had won the Indian Subcontinent Gold Award in the same category at a ceremony in New Delhi co-hosted by ICRT India and Incredible India. The win at Yashobhoomi (IICC Dwarka) qualified BLF to represent the subcontinent at the global finals.

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Founded and directed by Sethrichem Sangtam, a noted rural development leader from Eastern Nagaland, the organisation focuses on peacebuilding through regenerative agriculture and culture-centred tourism. Former insurgents and marginalised youth are trained as guides, farmers, and hosts—turning past conflict into livelihoods rooted in pride and reconciliation.

Sangtam, who received the Rohini Nayyar Prize 2022 for his contribution to rural transformation, described the award as “a tribute to the resilience and spirit of the indigenous people of Eastern Nagaland.”

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“It affirms that peace, when built on mutual trust, shared heritage, and inclusive growth, can transform even the most fragile landscapes into models of hope and harmony,” he said.

Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, Chair of the Global Awards jury, praised the laureates for their “remarkable innovation and creative solutions that inspire others worldwide.”

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The Global Responsible Tourism Awards highlight best practices that integrate environmental sustainability, inclusivity, and community participation. Winners were selected from regional champions across Latin America, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.

For BLF, the international recognition reinforces Nagaland’s growing profile in sustainable and community-based tourism. The foundation continues to develop peace-driven rural initiatives that link livelihood creation with conservation, helping bridge divides through shared stories and landscapes.