The TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards
"In a rapidly changing world our planet's nature environment has suffered the most. Our wildlife and natural resources are all disappearing faster than we could ever imagine. Conservation is crucial. For conservation to become effective, it requires commitment, political will and financial resources. Enlightened ecotourism is one of the principle way of ensuring not only conservation but also a sustainable and non extractive source of revenue generation for both local communities and Government.
I am honoured to be Chairman of these TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards, instituted to honour those who innovatively use nature travellers and the ecotourism community to help save the Tiger and its habitat. I am sure these awards will inspire and motivate many across India and the world to work towards a better and more sustainable future."
Mike Pandey - Chairman of the Awards (TV presenter, Film Maker and Conservationist)
We have launched the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards and are now actively seeking nominations for a number of Award Categories in 2010
Awards Categories will include:
- Most Inspirational Eco lodge
- Best Park Guide/Naturalist (also carries prize of INR 15,000)
- Best Park for Tourism (also carries a prize of INR50,000 worth of equipment to be used in tiger protection/conservation projects)
- Best Destination Management Company for Nature Tourism
- Best Tourist Related Community Initiative (also carries prize of INR25000)
- Best Wildlife/Tourism Initiative (also carries a prize of Rupees INR25000 towards equipment/services for the benefit of the winning Community)
The Aims of the Awards will be to:
- Act as a beacon to the Global Tourist Industry, highlighting the important work being done by tourism in support of tiger conservation.
- Increase public awareness of the value of responsible tourism as an agent of conservation and habitat renewal.
- Reward and encouraging best practice operations.
- Encourage sustainability in tourism enterprises.
- Promote community enterprise and community initiatives around Tiger Parks.
The Application Process to Apply For an Award or to Nominate a Project or Initiative for an Award
Chairman of the Judges
The TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards, chaired by Mike Pandey, India's best know filmmaker and Environmentalist, will highlight and reward best practice in the field and extend our role in advocacy, supporting and marketing best practice providers and services by bringing TOFT’s work, its members work and other extraordinary initiatives we can all learn from - to a wider audience.
Timetable of the awards
- Completed Entry Forms must be received by Friday 12th February 2010
- Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Friday 12th March 2010
- Final Information must be received by Thursday 1st April
- The Winners and Runners up announced on the 16th April 2010 at an award ceremony in Delhi
For details on the Awards, eligibility and an application form download from the link above.
Sponsorship of the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2010 and onwards
The TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards will be a high profile event and will draw international and local media attention. Discussions are already underway with major television news provider and Sanctuary Magazines have agreed to be a media Partner.
Title and other sponsors are being sought and a number of ways of linking with the work of the TOFT campaign, both during the Awards and in working with TOFT over the longer term can be negotiated.
The Awards are an important business to business networking opportunity and are supported by some of the most important players in the Global Travel Trade. They are also an opportunity to gain powerful International media coverage, working in association with the Award programme’s media partners. Tiger Tourism attracts high demographic profile customers, and tiger conservation is a subject attracting significant public attention. TOFT members are responsible for some 10,000 tiger viewing trips (from outside India) a year and ten times this in domestic visitors.
And, finally, of course the TOFT Awards are also a great opportunity to be seen to support one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species!
Download the Sponsorship document below for further details, email julian.matthews@toftigers.org or call us on + 91 9810028849
