www.toftigers.org

Julian Matthews,

Chairman

Travel Operators for Tigers

PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION

Julian Matthews, Chairman

TOFTigers

WTB November 2013

THE REALITY

www.toftigers.org

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.

www.toftigers.org

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

www.toftigers.org

www.toftigers.org

SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS

TOUR OPERATORS OR AGENTS?

USE YOUR BUYING POWER !

www.toftigers.org

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

www.toftigers.org

Because this must not be

THE END