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Transcript of Www.toftigers.org Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers PRESENTATION Julian...
www.toftigers.org
Julian Matthews, Chairman
Travel Operators for Tigers
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers
ITB March 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
www.toftigers.org
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 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.
www.toftigers.org
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
www.toftigers.org
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?
www.toftigers.org
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.
www.toftigers.org
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?
www.toftigers.org
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?
www.toftigers.org
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
www.toftigers.org
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 !
www.toftigers.org
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)
www.toftigers.org
• 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)
www.toftigers.org
Use lodges identified as ‘Best Practice’ providers(use TOFT PUG Eco rating as buying guide)
www.toftigers.org
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
www.toftigers.org
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
www.toftigers.org
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
www.toftigers.org
Your purchasing decisions are crucial for your long
term future
And critical that only ‘Good’ Tourism survives
Because it can save Tigers and forests