Why join the TOFTigers PUG Eco-rating?

You are now about to start the PUG certification process.

This online form will take you about 6 minutes to fill in and is the first step to getting on your PUG audit journey. Not only will we now get your key contact details but we will also get some idea of your establishment and its operations through simple YES/NO answers. This forms the basic information needed for the onsite audit team, and should be filled in by the owners, proprietor or senior management only.

Any problems you can contact the Green team in Delhi on + 11 24329452 or Mobile: +919810529609

We look forward to working with you over the coming months as we take you on your sustainability journey

Thank you

P.S. For full details of the PUG process as a lodge or resort owner – view a PDF download here.

    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...

    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.

    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?

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

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

    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?

    Thank you!

    Application confirmation You're almost there!

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    Please be aware that there is a lot of data to process, therefore please allow up to 5 minutes to process and send your data.