TOFT Brings Tourism Leaders Together To Discuss The Future Of Responsible Travel

On July 3, tourism professionals from across the country came together in Gurgaon for an evening centred on responsible tourism. Hosted by TOFT, the networking dinner brought together donors, supporters, lodge partners, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), sustainability experts, and conservation advocates. It gave people across the industry a chance to reconnect, exchange ideas, and discuss the future of sustainable wildlife and nature tourism.

A Shared Focus On Responsible Tourism

One of the highlights of the evening was the participation of several TOFT PUG-certified and Footprint-certified properties. These certifications recognise businesses that follow responsible environmental and social practices, and many participating lodges spoke about the work they are doing to make their operations more sustainable.

The discussions also reflected how sustainability continues to become an important part of the tourism industry. Participants exchanged ideas on improving sustainability standards, encouraging more businesses to adopt responsible practices, and finding practical ways to balance tourism with conservation and community wellbeing.

Travelife Members Join The Conversation

This year's networking dinner also marked the first participation of Travelife members from the Delhi NCR region. Their presence brought a wider perspective to the discussions by bringing together DMCs working within different sustainability frameworks.

Throughout the evening, participants shared experiences, discussed common challenges, and explored opportunities to work more closely together. Conversations ranged from changing traveller expectations and emerging sustainability trends to partnerships that can help strengthen responsible tourism across destinations.

Rather than focusing on individual organisations, the discussions highlighted how different parts of the tourism industry can learn from one another and build stronger collaborations.

Looking Ahead To The TOFT Awards

The upcoming TOFT Awards, scheduled for December 14, 2026, were also an important part of the evening's discussions. The awards continue to recognise businesses and tourism professionals that have demonstrated a strong commitment to responsible tourism and conservation.

The event also served as an opportunity to exchange ideas ahead of the awards while recognising organisations that are setting higher standards for sustainability across the region.

More than a networking dinner, the gathering reflected the value of bringing together people working towards similar goals. It created space for meaningful conversations, knowledge sharing, and new partnerships that can support responsible tourism in the years ahead.

As the evening came to a close, participants left with stronger connections and fresh ideas, reinforcing TOFT's belief that collaboration remains key to building a more sustainable future for wildlife and nature tourism.

(With inputs from various sources)

FAQs

Q1. What is TOFT?

TOFT is a conservation organisation that promotes responsible wildlife and nature tourism across South Asia through sustainability standards, certifications and industry collaboration.

Q2. What was discussed at the TOFT networking dinner?

Participants discussed responsible tourism, sustainability, conservation, industry collaboration, changing traveller expectations and the upcoming TOFT Awards.

Q3. Who attended the TOFT Gurgaon event?

The gathering included lodge partners, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), Travelife members, sustainability experts, conservationists and tourism professionals.

Q4. What are TOFT's PUG and Footprint certifications?

These certifications recognise tourism businesses that follow responsible environmental, conservation and community-focused practices.

Q5. When will the TOFT Awards 2026 take place?

The TOFT Awards are scheduled to be held on December 14, 2026, recognising excellence in responsible tourism and conservation.