Economic Activity Derived from Whale-Based Tourism in Vava'u, Tonga

Abstract

This 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.

Keywords:

• economic activity
• marine tourism
• snorkel-with-whales
• whale-watching

Acknowledgments

The support and assistance of whale tourism operators in Vava'u, the Tonga Visitor's Bureau, The University of South Pacific (Neiafu), and Christy Butterfield and Alan Bowe from the Tongan Whale Watch Operators Association were much appreciated. Thanks to all respondents to the questionnaires, interviewees, and the wider Vava'u community who supported this research. This research was approved by the Auckland University of Technology Research Ethics Committee and supported by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at AUT University. The comments of three anonymous referees were also helpful in improving this article.