Whale Watching Worldwide

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to three operators and Anouk Ilangakoon (member, Cetacean Specialist Group, IUCN Species Survival
Commission).
Thailand
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditures
Total
expenditure
1991 None N/A None None None None
1994 None N/A None None None None
1998 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal
2008 2,700 26.9% 10 $8,100 $27,000 $35,100
Capital City: Bangkok
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Bang Pakong
02: Nakhon Si Thammarat
03: Songkhla Lake
Despite its famous beaches and large tourist industry, Thailand does
not have a large whale or dolphin watching industry. The Hoyt
report mentioned that dive operators in Phuket advertised some
dolphin trips, but these have not developed into regular trips as
sightings are too infrequent. On the Gulf of Thailand side, waters
are shallow and thus unsuitable for populations of large cetaceans.
Despite this, dedicated dolphin watching trips have developed in
two locations, on Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao Province, near Bangkok, and in the south of the
country in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Bang Pakong is an easy day trip from Bangkok. The journey is made mainly by locals to see Irrawaddy
dolphins in the river, or in the Gulf of Thailand where the dolphins feed later in the day. Trips are arranged
informally with local fishermen for around $15 per boat, holding four to six people. More formal cruises
farther up the Bang Pakong River may also see the dolphins.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, boats can be arranged to see pink Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins. It is difficult to
estimate numbers of dolphin watchers in the area, but there do not seem to be many. Some small resorts
feature the pink dolphins in their promotional material, but are unsure of numbers, saying that boats can be
arranged with advance notice.
Some dolphin watching occurs on Songkhla Lake from Thalae Noi, Phatthalung Province. The focus is a
small, endangered population of around 35 Irrawaddy dolphins. If efforts to conserve the population of
dolphins are successful, more dolphin watching may develop.
Researchers suggest that there are several other locations where dolphin watching could be developed, and
surveys are being conducted. One promising location is in Trat Province, where there is another population
of Irrawaddy dolphins. Researchers emphasise that given Thai dolphin watching depends on small,
vulnerable populations of cetaceans, strict regulation of operations, ideally with permit controls, will be
essential to ensure sustainability.
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