Madhya Pradesh has once again shined at the International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Responsible Tourism Awards. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has won 4 Gold and 1 Silver award. These awards have been received for projects like Rural Tourism Project, Safe Tourist Place Project for Women, Responsible Sovereign Development Project, Project Humsafar etc., under Responsible Tourism Projects run under Tourism Board.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust and Endowment, Usha Thakur, along with Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Tourism Board, Sheo Shekhar Shukla and Founder Director, ICRT and Managing Director (MD) of Responsible Tourism Partnership, Dr Harold Goodwin presented awards to the winners.

Minister Thakur said that tourism is a powerful discipline which will play an important role in building a self-reliant India. It is a means of increasing the knowledge of the public and relieving stress. Minister Thakur said that tourism of any state cannot gain popularity unless the government and the local community work together. All efforts will be made to promote responsible tourism in Madhya Pradesh.

MP Tourism Board Won gold in Increase Diversity in Tourism: How Inclusive is Our Industries, Growing the Local Economic Benefit, Contributing to Cultural Heritage and Increase Tourism Contribution to Natural Heritage category. Also won Silver Award in Access for the Differently Abled – Age Travelers, Employees and Holiday Makers category. A total of 26 awards were given in 9 categories in the ceremony.

The ICRT Awards is one of the world's most prestigious awards in the field of responsible tourism. It is organized annually by the International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT). The special thing is that this award is being held outside London for the first time. In the function, Matki folk dance of Malwa was presented by Swati Ukhle and fellow Ujjain. It is a dance performed by women on the sound of drums on auspicious occasions. On this occasion, Additional Managing Director Tourism Board Vivek Shrotriya, Director (Skill) Manoj Singh along with departmental officers and members of Tour and Travel Operator's organisation ADTOI were present.