Ankit Sood

Experience

• 

  Sunshine Himalayan Adventures

  Feb 1996 - now

  Managing Host

  Having an in-depth knowledge of Treks and Jeep Safaris in Leh Ladakh, Kullu Manali, Lahul Spiti and all over the Western Himalayas.Done Basic courses in skiing, Paragliding and MountaineeringPrincipal Consultant of Eco-Tourism for Great Himalayan National Park, The Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and BTCA ( Society for Biodiversity , Tourism and Community Advancement) Marketed and Operated Two camps in Sarchu (Leh Manali Highway) in 95 &96

• 

  Govt. PG Degree College Kullu

  Sept 1999 - Mar 2011

  Associate Professor

  • As an Associate Professor in Tourism having over twelve years of teaching undergraduate students in ecotourism stream at Kullu principally building human resource for the tourism industry from the local youth belonging to the valley. • Tourism Counselor to the tourism degrees of Masters and Bachelors in the IGNOU University in which one guided over five dissertations for Masters in tourism management in and around Himachal Pradesh and numerous projects for undergraduates in community based ecotourism. • As a guest Lecturer invited over by several organizations to speak on issues relating to community based ecotourism including IAS Academy Massouri, Corbett National Park, WWF India , GB Panth Institute of Environment , Almora, Nehru Yuva Kendra and various colleges and universities. • Presented papers in various conferences like EcoSoc , Parwanoo , WWF CEL, Forest Department Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal • Lead tours from GDC Kullu to all corners of India Show less

• 

  Kullu Govt . Degree College , HP University

  Sept 1999 - Dec 2007

  Lecturer , Ecotourism

  Invited as a Guest faculty to a) IAS Academy Mossourie , Utteranchal b) GB Panth Institute of Environment , Mohalc) Ecotourism Workshop organized by the Govt. of Utteranchal at Corbett National Park Dehradun. d) The Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute , Manalie) The Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu f) Attended several workshops and seminars on Ecotourism in Delhi, Shimla , Ladakh and various places in India. Teaching Experience of Nine Years with the highest passing ratio (97%) amongst all subjects in the college. Organized and Managed Three Guide Courses for poor villagers belonging to the Ecozone of the Great Himalayan National Park through the College. Show less

• 

  Louis and Berger Inc

  Apr 2011 - Mar 2014

  National Ecotourism Expert ( SBFP - JICA) Forest Department , Govt. of Sikkim, India

  Core Team Member for drafting Ecotourism Policy for the State of Sikkim with Japanese Experts.Making 5 Year National Marketing Strategy for the state of Sikkim Established the Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate Developing Master Plans for new trekking routes especially in Protected Areas around Sikkim . With the Project Management Unit , Forest & Wild Life Department , Govt of Sikkim : -Formulate the ecotourism policy for the state of Sikkim with due consultation of the stakeholders- Establishment of Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate from recruitment to capacity building & training- Conceptualized & Implemented various Adventure, Birding & Mountaineering Guide Programs -Assist PMU to implementation of the National Marketing Strategy-Assist PMU to formulate the self sustainable marketing strategy for the post-project period-Assist PMU to create linkages between international tour operators with the local tour operators and local communities offering tourism services-Assist PMU to develop ecotourism areas with respect to specific market segments-Assist PMU to develop ecotourism sites such as trekking routes, wildlife watching areas-Assist PMU to develop tourist facilities such as interpretation centers, renovation and utilization of forest rest houses-Assist PMU to conduct solid waste management study at tourism areas Show less

• 

  IDIPT- ADB ( HP )

  Mar 2012 - Sept 2020

  Ecotourism Planner & Forest Conservation Specialist

  Developing Community Based Ecotourism in and around six clusters in HImachal Pradesh including Maharana Pratap Sagar ( Pong Dam) A beautiful Ramsar site and declared important bird area and wetland in the Kangra District ADB Himachal Pradesh

• 

  STC

  Mar 2012 - Feb 2021

  Ecotourism Planner & Forest Conservation Specialist

  1.Developing DPR's and Micro Plans for Community Based Tourism in Himachal Pradesh2.Conceptualizing, planning, and development of tourism/ecotourism/sustainable tourism destinations across Himachal3. Development of tourism projects in PPP mode (Feasibility studies, Investor meetings, Bid process management, Investor interactions, etc.)4. Preparation of the Tourism policies, draft legislation, strategies, etc. (Ecotourism Policy for Himachal Pradesh)6. Core Team for UN World Heritage Site Registration of Great Himalayan National Park7. Conceptualising & planning tourism promotion and development (Development of tourism websites, marketing materials, manuals, etc.)8. Infrastructure Gap Analysis for major tourism destinations in Himachal9. Heritage, Ecotourism, Adventure tourism-related projects- conceptualization, development, feasibility analysis, etc10. Responsible Tourism Initiatives Study in Kerala11. Principal Consultant for ECOSOC, ABVIMAS, Himachal Tourism & HP Forest Department Show less

• 

  Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

  Mar 2012 - Dec 2015

  National Ecotourism Expert
• 

  Sunshine Himalayan Cottages

  Apr 2017 - now

  Co-Founder

  Locate us on Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XpQb77X9LC4YNMT7Located in Tirthan Valley - the buffer zone of the World Heritage Site of Great Himalayan National Park, these beautiful drive-in handcrafted riverside cottages are an epitome of Himachals hospitality and sustainable architecture. This 15 room’s boutique resort is a mix of mud, stone and wood where the rooms are named after the resident birds of the 3 acre compound! This riverside property offers mud house rooms, family suites, stone house rooms and tree house; all with en-suite facilities, and a well equipped kitchen to cater to a variety of tastes. Show less

• 

  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

  Jan 2020 - Nov 2022

  Ecotourism Planner

  Master Planning of Ecotourism as an Alternative Livelihood for Shangarh & Hampta Area !

• 

  EY

  Mar 2021 - Mar 2023

  TEAM LEADER

  Preparation of Master Plans for Development of Ecotourism Activities in Himachal Pradesh Site Selection and Probable Ecotourism products Existing Ecotourism Infrastructure in the state Participation in stake holders consultation meeting and Client Interaction Consultation with local community and summarization of feedback Review of Minutes of meeting on stakeholders consultation Undertake Site visits and provide information on existing ecotourism products , themes , accommodation, accessibility , accommodation of various ecotourism circuits Review of Draft Master Plan Report and other deliverables Show less