Whale Watching Worldwide

there is an element of opportunistic whale watching that is not captured in this analysis. However, as many
cruise ships offer whale watching either as part of the cruise, or the opportunity to go with local operators
while in port, this more dedicated whale watching has been estimated on the basis of a proportion of all
cruise ship visitors. Research indicates that of cruise ship visitors, over 60% on average include wildlife
watching as a part of their trips. Estimates for this report, in keeping with Hoyt 2001, attribute
approximately 10% of cruise ship participants to whale watching.
Throughout Alaska, but particularly around the whale watching hubs of Juneau and Gustavus, whale
watching tours are predominantly run by small privately owned charter boats with a capacity of six to ten
passengers which offer whale watching as an option among other charters, most notably sport fishing. This
gives the local whale watching industry a large constituency of small, often family owned businesses, and
hence a strong tie to local communities.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
gray whale, humpback whale
Small cetaceans:
orca, Pacific white‐sided dolphin, harbour
porpoise, Dall’s porpoise
Tourists:
International 85%
Domestic 15%
Types of tours: Focused on boat‐based cruises in feeding
grounds of humpback whales. Also multi‐day
cruise ships encountering cetaceans. Some
land‐based watching of migratory gray whales
at Whale Fest
Average adult ticket price: $100
Estimated employment
250
numbers:
Main whale watch season: Late May to early September
Acknowledgements:
Thanks in particular to David Nemeth, as well as Glen Jacobsen, Kathy and Barry Bracken, Captain Greg, Kara Berg,
Captain Joel Hanson, Dennis Rogers, David (Fritz) Koschmann, Todd Sebens, Jack Cadigan, Laurie Booyse, Dolphin tours,
Nate Modica, Kaja Brix, Greg Silber and Lynn Aderho.
References:
McDowell Group 2007, ‘Alaska Visitor Statistics Program’, State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development, accessed January 2009, available online at:
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/toubus/research.htm.
McDowell Group 2008, ‘Alaska Visitor Statistics Program V; Interim visitor Volume Report’, State of Alaska Department
of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, accessed January 2009, available online at:
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/toubus/research.htm.
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