Whale Watching Worldwide

Antigua and Barbuda
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 None N/A None None None None
1994 None N/A None None None None
1998 None N/A None None None None
2008 500 7.2% 3 $28,750 $18,750 $47,500
Capital City: Saint John’s
Antigua and Barbuda have no dedicated whale watching industry
despite cetaceans being regularly seen in local waters. Humpback
whales pass by the west coast of Barbuda in the months of
December to April.
Nevertheless, due to the presence of whales, there are three main
cruise operators who offer a variety of boat cruises around the
islands, and when whales are present, will opportunistically include
some watching in their cruises. These activities we estimate
conservatively at around 500 tourists in 2008, in accordance with
operator responses. Pantropical spotted and bottlenose dolphins
are seen on trips more regularly than whales, especially in Barbuda.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
humpback whale
Small cetaceans:
pantropical spotted dolphin, bottlenose
dolphin
Tourists:
International N/A
Domestic
Types of tours: Boat‐based
Average adult ticket price: $115
Estimated employment
3
numbers:
Main whale watch season: December to April
Acknowledgements:
Nathalie Ward, Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network and boat‐based operator Eli Fuller from Adventure Antigua.
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