Documenting the Growth of the Whale-Watching Industry

Whale Watching 2001 found that whale watching is now a US $1 billion industry. More than 492 communities in 87 nations and territories offer whale watching excursions and tours.

Whale watching is growing at a faster rate than general world tourism. The number of people whale watching has increased by 12.1 percent each year since 1991. Direct expenditures on tickets for tours have increased from US $77 million in 1991 to more than $US300 million, an average annual increase of 21.4 percent.

Total worldwide whale watching tourism expenditures -- the amount whale watchers spent on the tours, as well as travel, food, hotels and souvenirs -- estimated at US $317.9 million in 1991, reached US $1.049 billion in 1998.

Whale watching has significant educational, environmental, scientific and other socio-economic benefits. Local guides trained as naturalists expand scientific and local knowledge. The scientific programs of several research organizations have flourished through collaborations with local whale-watch operations. Data collection on board whale-watching platforms has been instrumental in establishing marine protected areas and sanctuaries that benefit people, whales and the environment.

Whale watching offers communities a sense of identity and cultural pride. In many places, whale watching provides valuable, sometimes crucial, income to local people through the creation of new jobs and businesses. It also helps foster appreciation of the marine environment through hands-on education and research.

IFAW works with communities in more than 26 countries -- partnering with governments, local whale-watch operators, scientists and the public -- to promote responsible whale-watching activities.

These efforts include scientific research and internships; socio-political, economic, educational, legal and administrative studies; whale-watch operator- and guide-training; educational programs; the development of whale-watch guidelines and regulations; and the establishment of national and regional whale sanctuaries.