A pioneer in the world of responsible luxury, Shoba Rudra founded RARE India to showcase and promote some of the most unique destinations in India. Rudra believes mindful interactions with people, culture, nature, wildlife, and traditions will nudge you to live consciously and build value for the planet.
Excerpts from the interview with Shoba Rudra, Founder Partner of RARE India
T+L India: How did the idea of community-driven sustainable tourism first come to you?
Shoba Rudra: The seeds were sown with the first hotel on board RARE India in 2003. It was a small key, owner- run, wildlife lodge set on 40 acres with an open fence and just 12 tents, and it employed the local community. From this point, most of the hotels that joined our community were owner-powered, committed to the destination, and made conscious choices.
T+L India: What are some of the latest trends in sustainable tourism that are here to stay?
Shoba Rudra: We must stop calling sustainability a trend. All hotels and tourism businesses should be built consciously, and [should be] destination-focussed while being community- inclusive. And with governments calling for a net zero goal, it is imminent for every business. Pivot or perish is the inevitable order of the day.
T+L India: What are your personal favourite travel experiences?
Shoba Rudra: Some of the Petrichor experiences (Petrichor by The Blue Yonder provides experiential and immersive travel experiences in India) around issues of climate change are pathbreaking and set you thinking. Their rural rambles along River Nila are private interactions with communities that have been promoting performing arts for generations.
T+L India: What is going to be the upcoming destinations for Indian travellers in the coming years?
Shoba Rudra: Every destination is now inundated. Going forward, stakeholders will have to deliberately drive numbers to places where the tourism footprint is low. For example, Rajasthan in the monsoons, Ladakh in the winters.
T+L India:At a time when social media has made everything easily accessible, how do you truly maintain the sanctity of an experience or destination that is untouched?
Shoba Rudra: In principle, some of the best places should be kept off social media and some experiences should be onsite surprises. Almost every experience should have the potential to be rephrased to match the guest’s pace and interest. Some of our best experiences are committed to secrecy and even the community around doesn’t want the numbers from Instagram addicts.
TAB Selects
A destination that transformed you: Bandhavgarh
One sustainable practice that you’ve adhered to: Segregating and composting organic waste; and no bottled water
Related: Sustainable Living: 7 Ways To Live An Eco-Friendly Life
Written By
Simrran Gill
Features EditorAn advocate of slow travel, Simrran Gill can mostly be found documenting her journeys, food, and people. Often fascinated by life in general, she is a true-blue Delhite and loves every opportunity to pack a suitcase and hop on the next flight out. She is a post-graduate in journalism and has previously worked with Outlook Traveller. When not travelling ..Read More
