www.toftigers.org

Julian Matthews, Chairman

Travel Operators for Tigers

PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers

ITB March 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 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 INDIA’s NATURE TOURISM REALITYREALITY

• 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

tourismA massive missed opportunity?

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SUCCESS THROUGH ECOTOURISMEach 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 BETTER 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.

•Parks are overflowing with tigers – buffers are sink holes

•Known tigers get veterinary attention

www.toftigers.org

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SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS

TOUR OPERATORS?TOUR OPERATORS?

USE YOUR BUYING POWER !USE YOUR BUYING POWER !

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Demand, seek out and engineer more eek out and engineer more holistic wildlife experiencesholistic wildlife experiences

Seek alternatives to the mainstream Seek alternatives to the mainstream destinationsdestinations

India has over 500 parks and sanctuaries India has over 500 parks and sanctuaries (& 43 Tiger reserves)(& 43 Tiger reserves)

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• Work within Codes of Conduct Work within Codes of Conduct

• Offer greater variety of wildlife & forest Offer greater variety of wildlife & forest

interaction interaction

• (Walks, hides, bikes, birdwatching, villages)(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 & TOFTYOU & TOFT• Tell clients about TOFT and your supportTell clients about TOFT and your support

• Tell your suppliers and providers you only use TOFT members and Tell your suppliers and providers you only use TOFT members and

lodgeslodges

• Mention TOFT in newsletters, brochures, PR etcMention TOFT in newsletters, brochures, PR etc

• Capitalise on TOFT website linksCapitalise on TOFT website links

• Be informed on current issues in Wildlife Tourism and at parksBe informed on current issues in Wildlife Tourism and at parks

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HOW TOFT WILL HELP YOU

• Highlight you on website and literature

• Help raise your International profile

• Regular information to help your and your clients have a better

and more

enriching stay

• New website for direct sales enquiries

•Networking amongst membership

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• Placed in your ticket wallets• Get printed this season

TOFT - TRAVELLERS CODE

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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