Whale Watching Worldwide

For consistency with the methodology of this report, all boat‐based visitors to Antarctica in 2008 have been
counted as opportunistic whale watchers, due to the fact that watching marine mammals occurs as part of
all trips, a majority in specialised small water craft. Furthermore, all trips occur in peak whale season when
whales are reported to be abundant in Antarctic waters (according to operator responses). As an average
(from survey responses), approximately 13% of time on a trip to Antarctica involves some form of cetacean
watching. This therefore assumes that all tourists to Antarctica have some form of whale watching
experience.
Importantly, the 1998 figures above (2,503) were based on a different methodology which counted only 25%
of total visitors to Antarctica as whale watchers, and as such, the growth figure of 33.7% overstates the
actual growth that has occurred. If we were to calculate growth on the same terms as we have counted
whale watchers for 2008, then the more comparative AAGR figure (growing from 10,000 to 45,520) is 16.4%.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
humpback whale, Antarctic minke whale
Small cetaceans:
Arnoux’s beaked whale, hourglass dolphin,
orca, southern bottlenose whale
Tourists:
International 100%
Domestic 0%
Types of tours: Expeditionary sea voyages, frequently
combined with short inflatable boat
excursions. Luxury cruise liners and yacht
tours.
Average adult ticket price: $6,225
Estimated employment
220
numbers:
Main whale watch season: November to March
Acknowledgements:
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and operators.
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