Chamba’s H2O House wins applause at Global Responsible Tourism meet

Chamba’s community-driven H2O House by Not On Map captured international attention at the Global Responsible Tourism meet held at Beypore in Kerala, earning appreciation for its unique model that seamlessly blends heritage conservation, water stewardship and community livelihoods.

The initiative placed Chamba firmly on the global tourism map, demonstrating how responsible tourism can empower rural communities while safeguarding natural and cultural resources.

The two-day international meet, which concluded at the Malabar Marina Convention Centre on Sunday, brought together tourism experts, policymakers and practitioners from across the world. H2O House representative Renu Sharma presented the initiative under the ‘Chalo Chamba’ campaign and highlighted how tourism could be made inclusive through the use of local resources and strong community participation. Community representative Magandeep shared insights into grassroots activities that connect cultural preservation with self-employment. The women-led community kitchen and the revival of traditional gharats, or water mills, were particularly appreciated as living examples of women empowerment and heritage-based livelihoods.

International delegates said that H2O House brought visitors closer to nature while maintaining ecological balance through a fully community-owned and self-help group-driven model. The participants were invited to visit Chamba, experience its rich art and culture and collaborate in transforming the district into a responsible tourism destination on the lines of Kerala.

Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas inaugurated the conference and it concluded in the presence of Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission CEO and global award winner Rupesh Kumar. The meet concluded with a collective resolve to promote tourism not merely as recreation, but as a means of livelihood generation and environmental conservation.

Not On Map founder Kumar Anubhav said that the initiative was now expanding beyond Himachal Pradesh. “We are establishing this model across different states and remote rural regions of the country. Our mission is to create responsible tourism destinations where the direct benefits of tourism reach every person in the community. What began in Chamba is now spreading as a movement for rural empowerment and cultural preservation across India,” he said.