Post on 05-Mar-2018
www.toftigers.org
Julian Matthews,
Chairman
Travel Operators for Tigers
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION
Julian Matthews, Chairman
TOFTigers
WTB November 2013
THE REALITY
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India is a world ‘biodiversity’ hotspot
A ‘Magnificent Seven’ destination! (not just Tigers!)
Forests and Tigers declining fast
Tourism sprawl
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THE TOFT BELIEF
Nature tourism provides an invaluable platform to:
* Support parks, buffer zones and local communities.
* Provides an powerful deterent role
•* Can also play an important role in poverty eradication.
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WHAT DOES IT NEED TO DO THIS?
A Forest Ministry that understands and sets the ‘road map’
for nature tourism
A Travel industry that helps achieve better wildlife tourism
Local communities that benefit from tourism.
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INDIA’s NATURE TOURISM
REALITY
• Tourism exists in a ‘legal, policy & strategic’ vacuum
• Little vision, or legal provision for its conception and implementation
• Tourism at loggerheads with Parks/Forest Department
• Seldom employs locals for anything other than menial labour
• Poor interpretation and guiding
• Often poor wildlife experience and one species centric
• Lack of training and expertise
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WHY DID THE TOURISM BAN HAPPEN?
• Private petition that went National
• Received initial Government approval
• The politics of tourism – Rich vs Poor
• The politics of science & poor tourism
A massive missed opportunity?
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SUCCESS THROUGH ECOTOURISM
Each Mountain Gorillas earns $200k per
year in permit fees alone to support
parks. Indirect revenue is probably 30
times greater
Kenya elephants worth $1M in tourism
revenue in their lifetime – only OR $300
in poached ivory.
What is a Tiger worth?
Tourism revenue accounts for 75% of
South Africa’s National Parks Budget.
(India its Negligible)
Wilderness in South Africa can now
generate 4X more dollars per acre than
agricultural land.
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SUCCESS THROUGH ECOTOURISM
• All forests in Government hands
• Got expertise and skills
• Got entrepreneurs and finance
• Got domestic market
• Massive demand for leisure
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IS INDIA PLACED to SUCCEED?
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Machali in Ranthambhore worth US$130
million in direct revenue in her lifetime. Each
Tiger generates US$1million per annum.
B2, In Bandhavgarh generated US$30
million in direct revenue in 7 years. Maybe 5
times that in indirect revenue
Madhya Pradesh raised US$7m in park fees
in 2011/12. Twice as much as was given by
own Tiger Authority. Already self sufficient.
CAN INDIA DO THE SAME?
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WHY TOURISM IS ALREADY SAVING THE TIGERS?
• ‘Values’ primary habitats as ‘economically viable zones’ over other extractive uses
• Tourism provides a deterrent force to grazers and poachers and pays for the privilege in park fees
• Proven rule of thumb - ‘If it pays – it stays’
• Nature Tourism creates ‘pockets’ of well informed, questioning naturalists, conscious lodge operators and tourists, all who keep Park Director and staff on their toes.
• Media is a great ‘motivator’ and influencer
FACTS
• Most visited Parks have greatest tiger
densities
• India has space for 10000 tigers. Only 3%
of forests are protected.
• Main Tiger parks are overflowing with
tigers – buffers are sink holes
• Known tigers get veterinary attention
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SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS
TOUR OPERATORS OR AGENTS?
USE YOUR BUYING POWER !
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Demand, seek out and engineer more
holistic wildlife experiences
Seek alternatives to the mainstream destinations
India has over 500 parks and sanctuaries
(& 43 Tiger reserves)
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• Work within TOFT Eco-certified providers
•Seek out and offer greater variety of wildlife & forest
interaction (Walks, hides, bikes, birdwatching, villages)
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Use lodges identified as ‘Best Practice’ providers
(use TOFT PUG Eco rating as buying guide)
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WHAT IS TOFT DOING IN RETURN? • Eco rating Audits continue
• Nature and driver Guide training course. Over 600 trained from 2010.
• Encouraging individual and collective action in the field for better
community interaction
• Highlighting best practice. Biannual TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards
• Advocacy with Government bodies
• Funded community projects in Corbett and Kanha
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and 45 others from India India & overseas
SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
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YOU & TOFT • Tell clients about TOFT and your support
• Tell your suppliers and providers you only use TOFT members and lodges
• Mention TOFT in newsletters, brochures, PR etc
• Capitalise on TOFT website links
• Be informed on current issues in Wildlife Tourism and at parks
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WEBSITE – A MARKETING TOOL
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Your purchasing decisions are crucial for your long term
future
And critical that only ‘Good’ Tourism survives
Because it can save Tigers and forests
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Because this must not be
THE END