Whale Watching Worldwide
Whale Watching Worldwide
Whale Watching Worldwide
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Turks and Caicos Islands<br />
Year Number of<br />
whale<br />
watchers<br />
AAGR Number of<br />
operators<br />
Direct<br />
expenditure<br />
Indirect<br />
expenditure<br />
Total<br />
expenditure<br />
1991 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal<br />
1994 100+ N/A N/A $10,000 $25,000 $35,000<br />
1998 1,500 96.8% 2 $43,000 $107,000 $150,000<br />
2008 265 ‐15.9% 3 $16,600 $16,000 $32,600<br />
Capital City: Grand Turk (Cockburn)<br />
<strong>Whale</strong> Watch Locations:<br />
01: Salt Cay<br />
02: Providenciales<br />
Tourism in the Turks and Caicos has been severely affected by the<br />
hurricane of Sept. 2008, including an operator who had his boat<br />
destroyed. This has had a direct impact on whale watching in 2009<br />
with more general cruise and dive operations on the islands<br />
reporting some vessel damage. As a result, numbers of whale<br />
watchers may temporarily drop as compared to 1998. However,<br />
the industry, as of 2008 before the storm, seemed in fact much the<br />
same as a decade ago, with a few operators undertaking dedicated whale watching trips, and many other<br />
dive operators who will take trips to see whales when there is demand with numbers reported by operators<br />
at a much lower level.<br />
2007 was however reportedly a much bigger year for whale watching compared to the 2008 season. It is<br />
likely therefore that future seasons will see numbers increase again. As identified in previous research<br />
(Hoyt, 1999), there is great opportunity for whale watching in the Turks and Caicos.<br />
Humpback whales are present in the waters around the islands in January to March, with most whale<br />
watching trips being undertaken from Salt Cay and Grand Turk, and less frequently Providenciales (Provo).<br />
One particularly friendly dolphin by the name of JoJo is resident in and around Provo where he regularly<br />
entertains tourists with his friendly ways. No whale watching has been counted for JoJo.<br />
Main species: Large cetaceans:<br />
humpback whale<br />
Small cetaceans:<br />
bottlenose dolphin<br />
Tourists:<br />
International 100%<br />
Domestic<br />
Types of tours: Boat‐based<br />
Average adult ticket price: $65<br />
Estimated employment<br />
3<br />
numbers:<br />
Main whale watch season: January to March<br />
Acknowledgements:<br />
Salt Cay Divers, Green Flash Tours and Pirate’s Hideaway.<br />
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