Whale Watching Worldwide

Main species: Large cetaceans:
Bryde’s whale, humpback whale, southern
right whale
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, long‐beaked common
dolphin, Heaviside’s dolphin
Tourists: 23
International 77%
Domestic 22%
Land‐based whale watching: 519,150
Types of tours: Boat‐based, dedicated, land‐based, package
tours along ‘whale routes’, land‐based eco‐
tours which include whale watching,
incidental land‐based whale watching.
Average adult ticket price: $68
Estimated employment
139
numbers:
Main whale watch season: July to October for whale watching,
August, September, December, January for
dolphin watching. 24
Acknowledgements:
Herman Oosthuizen (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism), Paul Warmeant (EconNomics, Integrated
Development Solutions), Christina Pretorius (IFAW), Wilfred Chivell (SABBWWA), Ian Stewart (Four Ball Plus Adventure
Safaris), Vic Cockcroft (Centre for Dolphin Studies), Storm Kreusch (Hermanus Tourism Bureau) and all the members of
the SABBWWA and all other boat and land‐based operators, tour companies and tourism bureaus that assisted with
our research.
23
These figures are for boat‐based whale watchers; results from land‐based whale watchers are likely to include a
higher percentage of domestic compared to international tourists.
24
Dolphins are usually resident populations and can be seen all year round; these are the peak months for tourism.
76