The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the Tamil Nadu Global Tourism Summit 2026, held in Chennai, India, on 2-3 February 2026. As part of the official program, CB (Ram) Ramkumar, GSTC Vice Chair, moderated the panel session “Rethinking Ecotourism Beyond Sanctuaries.”
The session encouraged participants to move beyond a narrow understanding of ecotourism as an activity confined to notified forests or protected reserves, and instead adopt a broader, landscape-level perspective that recognizes the role of diverse ecosystems and shared spaces in sustainable tourism planning; bringhing together perspectives from government, industry, and global tourism organizations.
Speakers included:
- Michael Dominic, Managing Director, CGH Earth Experience Hotels
- Supriya Sahu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Sumitro Kar, Executive Director, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), India Initiative
- Richa Khurana Singh, Vice President of Business Development, JuSTa Hotels & Resorts
The discussion acknowledged buffer zones, village commons, wetlands, mangroves, and agroforestry areas as shared public assets that require the same degree of planning, governance, and long-term management as formal conservation areas or tourism infrastructure; And also examined how standards and inclusive governance models can support the responsible expansion of ecotourism beyond core forest areas.
Panelists reflected on the importance of reducing pressure on fragile ecosystems while simultaneously creating sustainable, place-based economic opportunities for local communities. During the session, Mr. Ramkumar emphasized the need for coherence between policy and practice, highlighting the role of the GSTC Standards in guiding responsible and sustainable tourism development.
“Rethinking ecotourism beyond protected areas is essential to build tourism systems that respect ecological integrity while supporting community well-being. A holistic, landscape-level approach, guided by sound governance, community participation, and with the GSTC Standards in mind, helps destinations manage tourism responsibly, balance conservation and livelihoods, and create long-term shared value for the community and its nature,” said Mr. Ramkumar.
The Tamil Nadu Global Tourism Summit 2026 provided a platform for exchanging different perspectives on a range of topics related to tourism development, including sustainability.
