Economic Activity Derived from Whale-Based Tourism in Vava'u, Tonga
2013; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 41; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/08920753.2013.841346
ISSN1521-0421
Autores Tópico(s)Cruise Tourism Development and Management
ResumoThis article reports on a study that estimated the economic activity of snorkel-with-whales tourism in the small, isolated island group of Vava'u, Tonga. This research shows that these activities generate important economic and other benefits and that these benefits grew from a relatively modest USD500,000 per year in 1999 to USD5 million per year by 2009. Data from self-reply questionnaires completed by holiday-makers who traveled by aircraft (n = 499) and yacht-based visitors (n = 52) showed that whales have become the predominant attraction for visitors to these remote islands. Interviews with tour operators (n = 10) confirmed the increasing influence of whale based activities over all tourism in the Vava'u area.
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