TravTalk India Online Magazine
TOFT India has launched an internationally-recognised online programme for tour operators that focuses on driving more sustainable travel. Called Travelife, it gives members access to a range of online tools that they can use to start the journey towards greater sustainability in their own operations and in the tours they market and operate.
TOFT India, the nature-based travel trade alliance that focuses on driving more sustainable travel in South Asia has launched an internationally-recognised programme called Travelife to help drive up tour operation standards in India’s tourism sector. Ritu Makhija, Manager Sustainability at TOFT India, says, “All TOFT’s current DMC members will gain free access to a range of online tools that they can use to start the journey towards greater sustainability in their own operations, in the tours, they market and operate, and help in the destinations their clients visit. It all starts with making this commitment before full certification can be reached.”
Increasingly, travellers and the tour operators and OTAs that operate them, are demanding greater levels of environmental and social transparency with regards to the holidays they sell, especially the international market. The domestic market is also asking these questions. Naut Kusters, GM of Travelife for tour operators, based in the Netherlands, says, “This pandemic has helped highlighted the need for far greater sustainability in travel and tourism globally – and our certification for operators and DMCs will help drive the supply chain pressure faster towards more responsible, eco-friendly and fairer tourism across South Asia. We are delighted to be working with TOFT in India, helping to drive up standards in tour operation across the country.”
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. The training and online tools are suitable for tour operators and travel agencies of any size and cover all management aspects of the travel company business including office operations, the supply chain, destinations, and consumers.
The Travelife standard for tour operators and travel agencies is based upon the full Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including labour conditions, human rights, environment, biodiversity, and fair business practices. The management requirements are compatible with ISO 14001 and the standard has been recognised as in compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Travelife for Tour Operators is a GSTC-Accredited certification programme. Achieving the GSTC-Accredited status means that a certification programme is following processes and procedures that have been reviewed and approved by the GSTC Accreditation Panel. Companies certified by Travelife can also use the GSTC language and logo when they meet all GSTC criteria. Travelife is supported by more than 40 national and international travel associations, over 1000 travel companies in more than 100 countries.
Chairman of TOFT, Julian Matthews, says, “India’s track record on travel and tourism sustainability is very poor, according to the latest UNWTO report 2019, far behind many of its competitors, including Sri Lanka. So being able to bring a respected international partner to India, together with our own accommodation certification programme, means we are now ready to drive up eco-standards and work with states and destinations to help them develop better ecotourism and more sustainable formats for tourism.”
