Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers

1. PRESENTATION Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers PRESENTATION Julian Matthews, Chairman Travel Operators for Tigers ITB March 2013 www.toftigers.org

2. THE REALITY • India is a world ‘biodiversity’ hotspot • A ‘Magnificent Seven’ destination! (not just Tigers!) • Forests and Tigers declining fast • Tourism sprawl www.toftigers.org

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 www.toftigers.org

6. 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? www.toftigers.org

7. 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? www.toftigers.org

8. SUCCESS THROUGH ECOTOURISM 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

9. IS INDIA BETTER PLACED to SUCCEED? All forests in Government hands Got expertise and skills Got entrepreneurs and finance Got domestic market Massive demand for leisure www.toftigers.org

10. CAN INDIA DO THE SAME? 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. www.toftigers.org

11. ‘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 WHY TOURISM IS ALREADY SAVING THE TIGERS? www.toftigers.org

12. 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

13. SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS TOUR OPERATORS? USE YOUR BUYING POWER ! www.toftigers.org

14. 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) www.toftigers.org

15. Work within Codes of Conduct • Offer greater variety of wildlife & forest interaction • (Walks, hides, bikes, birdwatching, villages) www.toftigers.org

16. Use lodges identified as ‘Best Practice’ providers (use TOFT PUG Eco rating as buying guide) www.toftigers.org

17. 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 www.toftigers.org

18. and 45 others from India India & overseas SOME OF OUR MEMBERS www.toftigers.org

19. 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 www.toftigers.org

20. 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

21. TOFT - TRAVELLERS CODE • Placed in your ticket wallets • Get printed this season www.toftigers.org

22. WEBSITE – A MARKETING TOOL www.toftigers.org

23. 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

24. Because this must not be THE END www.toftigers.org