TOFTigers to drive the Travelife global sustainability certification programme in India
TOFT India, the nature based travel trade alliance that focuses on driving more sustainable travel in South Asia, organised first in a series of workshops on “Sustainable Tourism” in partnership with Travelife in New Delhi on 5th August to sensitize the travel industry.
Travelife is a leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies committed to reaching sustainability. Travelife is a fair and affordable system that helps tour operators and travel agencies to manage and improve social and environmental impacts by complying with sustainability criteria.
The event was supported by Switch Asia, whose vision is to support the transition of Asian Countries to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy while promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns within Asia and greener supply chains between Asia and Europe.
Robin Boustead, Travelife Coordinator for South Asia flew in specially for the workshop to address the attendees and share his thoughts on sustainable tourism practices in the international markets. He said that leading OTAs of the world and international travel companies have already started adopting sustainability and stressing their partners to follow the same and do business in a sustainable and responsible way.
He showed his concern of international companies not willing or refusing to do business with India and Indian companies for the lack of following sustainable practices. He gave an example of trends where travellers are willing to pay 38 percent higher cost for sustainable travel over conventional unsustainable products and destinations.
Robin said that Travelife certification is all about doing busines in a better way and building partnerships with people and businesses who belive in the same ethos of sustainable business.
Toftigers also invited Mr. George Scaria, director of Kerala Voyages a leading destination management company from Kerala to share his experience after taking Travelife certification. Mr. Scaria mentioned how he received business queries after his company was listed as Travelife Certified company and he was approached by 5 new FTO’s to do business with his company.
Toftigers is the ground partner for Travelife in India and they will be promoting the cause of sustainable tourism and its demand to not only its own members but also to the entire tour operator community in India.
Travelife for Tour operators was developed in partnership with the European and global associations of tour operators and provides training, tools, and instruments to support tour operators and travel agencies in the integration of sustainability in their company operations. With the launch of Travelife Certification in India By TOFTigers, Tour operators & travel agencies in India now have the access to the training and online tools suitable for them. These tools are applicable to all sizes and cover all management aspects of the travel company business including office operations, the supply chain, destinations and consumers.
It’s the leading international certification program for sustainability in tourism for Tour operators and DMC’s, accredited by Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), with over 1,000 members from over 100 countries, and with the endorsement from over 40 national and regional travel associations.
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