Whale watching and Caribbean island tourism

The Global whale watching industry

Publication date: July 2001

Summary
Whale watching is a billion dollar industry, practised in more than 87 different countries and territories world wide, attracting over nine million boat and land based participants per year. In 1998, the value of the global whale watching industry was estimated at 299,509,000 USD and 1,049 million USD was gained from indirect tourism expenditure.

The global whale watching industry has grown rapidly since its inception in the early 1980s. On average, the number of whale watchers increased by 21.1% per year from 1991 1998. The total expenditure whale watchers spent on tours alone has gown at a very similar rate - 21.4% per year.