Introduction to the TOFT (PUG) Rating Self-Assessment

The Travel Operators for Tigers is a collective campaign encompassing all those involved in wildlife tourism in India and South Asia. This includes International and local Travel operators and agents, destination management agents, accommodation providers and visitors.

The focus of this self-assessment questionnaire is to initiate the process of examining your own accommodation provision - both internally within your operations and externally within the greater community.

TOFT aims to support you in your business, offering opportunities to get better and more effective in your provision of your service and therefore more profitable. At the same time to enhance your standing within the local community, within Parks and ultimately to your clients both domestic and foreign.

Its aim is to have a superb 'wildlife experience' to sell to your clients today, tomorrow and into the future, thus securing you with a viable business into the future too!

PUG Self-Assessment contains questions targeting three key factors:

1. Economic issues of your operations
2. Socio-Cultural impacts of your operations
3. Ecological impacts of your operations

This is one of the assessment processes to benchmark your tourism practices, which would be rated as per the TOFT PUG Rating Procedure. An accurate completion of the form is essential and can affect your PUG rating.

The approach to questions will allow us an accurate assessment of

1. Current PRACTICE
2. Currently DO NOT PRACTICE
3. Don't do, but AIM TO PRACTICE
4. N/A (Not Applicable / The factors are not used for your operations)

Acknowledgement : This assessment outline has been modified from Wild Asia's Responsible Tourism Self-Assessment Questionnaire 2005 / 2006. This specific PUG Self-Assessment Questionnaire would be used for 2006 / 2009 period and TOFT would amend / modify future changes through various other external assessments.

Please find the following information regarding your operations...

LODGECAMPRESORTHOTEL

Property Name

Title

Your Name

Destination Address

If you are not the owner, please give the owner's name(s). If there are more than one owners, you can use a comma to separate their names.

Owner's Name

Title

Email

Main Address

1.2 Please give us a summary of your tourism activities. E.g. How many rooms, number of staff & naturalists employed, acreage of your site etc.

1.3 History of Operations. E.g. Your year of establishment, background and other such establishments, and what market segment are you attempting to attract, Luxury/Budget and Foreign/Domestic visitors etc.

1.4 What are your operational objectives for the future?

1.5 Would you like to receive our free catalog via postal mail? YesNo

1.6 Do you operate already within a Code of Conduct in your operations? YesNo

1.7 Do you highlight this Code to Visitors and/or Staff? YesNo

The Economic Factors which directly influence and affect local communities, local employment and the recognition of wildlife tourism and conservation as an economic benefit.

Our approaches is to minimise 'Leakages' and maximise 'Linkages' within each wilderness destinations to ensure the maximum benefit for the continued wildlife conservation in the area is felt by those communities who have to live and work within its influences.

2.1 Employment
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you employ staff from local community?
Does your local staff exceeds more then 50% of your staffing requirements?
Do your wage levels meet the 'wage acts' in your area?
Do you provide clear incentives on seniority and longevity of service?

2.2 Local Purchasing & Product Development
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you acquiring local food produce for daily requirements?
Does you local food purchasing exceeds more then 50% of your food requirements?
Do you have a separate accounting system for local purchases?
Do you seek locally made products (non food) and have formal sale arrangements for them?

2.3 Community Training or Capacity Building
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Training programs for your employees?
Training local’s for self-employment?

 

2.4 Visitor Services
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you offer visits to local markets or villages?
Do you offer visit to local craft centres?
Do you have locally produced souvenirs & handicraft on offer?
Do you offer guided nature walks?
Do you offer bike hire for visitors?

 

2.5 Visitor Donations & Operational Contributions
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you contribute funds to local projects/ programs?
Do you offer visitors the opportunity to contribute funds to local projects?
Do you record contribution from visitors / tourists?

The Socio-Cultural Factor focuses on the impact of Tourism with respect of local culture and heritage and aims to prevent negative impacts on social beliefs as well as protecting and preserving the wildlife destination's cultural heritage.

3.1 Co-Operative Structure
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you participate in local community activities/events?
Do you actively seek to maintain good relations with local communities?

 

3.2 Local Culture
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you have any involvement in local institutions and committees?
Do you involve yourselves in steps for promoting tourism potential in the area?

The Socio-Cultural Factor focuses on the impact of Tourism with respect of local culture and heritage and aims to prevent negative impacts on social beliefs as well as protecting and preserving the wildlife destination's cultural heritage.

4.1 Planning, Design & Construction
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Is your property planned, designed and constructed according to ecological norms and regulations?

 

4.2 Energy Managerment
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you take steps for energy conservation?
Do you use wood as a fuel for cooking or heating?
Do you have measures in place for noise pollution?

 

4.3 Water & Waste Management
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you have a process for recycling of water?
Do you encourage the conservation of water to staff & visitors?
Do you have a process for recycling of degradable waste?
Do you have a process for disposal of non biodegradable waste?

 

4.4 Nature Conservation
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you ensure restricting wildlife products piracy?
Do you support wildlife conservation & research conducted by the park?
Do you have a reporting system for bad and illegal practices within the park?
Do you have a good working relationship with the park authorities?

 

4.5 Client Briefing, Guiding & Interpretation
Practices	Yes	No	Will Do	NA	Proof / Evidence Yes No
Do you inform your visitor’s about rules & regulations of the park?
Do you use trained guides?
Do you use park literature for visitor education?