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What is the TOFT campaign about?

The Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT) campaign is a ground breaking ‘supply chain’ initiative to support Indian wildlife conservation efforts more effectively through a collective support and actions of all International and domestic companies and services involved in nature travel in India today. This, by association, includes all nature travellers and other visitors, who enjoy India's unique and rich natural heritage.

Why is this campaign necessary?

Experience and research shows that responsible wildlife and nature tourism can provide an invaluable platform to support and sustain parks, wildlife conservancies, buffer zones and local communities. It can also play an important role in anti-poaching efforts, community development and poverty alleviation.

It’s critical that, through information and communication, parks and providers can work together to run responsible wildlife tourism so that local communities are involved, and not the victims, in the unending struggle to save India's forests and wildlife.

Each travellers visit can really help.

Tiger tourism derives huge amounts of revenue for travel operators, accommodation and service providers in India yet only a tiny fraction of this is reinvested in the conservation of the parks and reserves, a sum not nearly sufficient to stem the tiger’s decline.

What do we hope to achieve?

1. To advocate and support better tourism practices in wilderness areas, with specific guidelines for operators, services and accommodation providers and visitors. Look out for our new TOFT PUG rating signage in accommodation and lodges.
2. To empower local communities to become involved in wildlife tourism projects and initiate low impact and sustainable development which helps conserve the parks and benefits the communities through employment and business opportunities.
3. To catalyse initiatives through the lodge community that enhance wildlife conservation and community support, including waste and water management, trade cooperatives, local employment, fair wages and local enterprises and services.