Journal article
From whale hunting to whale watching in Tonga: A sustainable future?
Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol.9(2), pp.128-146
2001
Abstract
The Vava'u island group in the northern part of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific has a growing reputation as a whale-watching destination. The pro-whaling organisation, the World Council of Whalers, with some local people, has, however, been actively promoting a resumption of whaling in Tonga. This study assesses the attitudes and characteristics of 'whale tourists' to the islands. Seventy-eight per cent of all tourists arriving by air, and around half those arriving by yacht, went whale watching. Both types of visitor opposed whale hunting; both types said they would be less likely to visit the islands if whales were hunted there. Consequently, any resumption of whaling or change in the protected status of whales would be likely to displace a large proportion of current visitors to Vava'u, resulting in a serious 'opportunity cost'. It seems unlikely that a whale-watching industry could coexist with a lethal use of whales in Tonga. © 2001, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title
- From whale hunting to whale watching in Tonga: A sustainable future?
- Authors
- Mark Orams (Author) - Massey University, New Zealand
- Publication details
- Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol.9(2), pp.128-146
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Date published
- 2001
- DOI
- 10.1080/09669580108667394
- ISSN
- 0966-9582; 0966-9582
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; USC Business School - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451434602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
264 Record Views