The report revealed that whales continue to contribute strongly to the country’s economy, with whale watching tourism generating almost $2 million annually and increasing at a rate of 20 percent a year.
The research commissioned by IFAW found humpback whales bring significant economic benefits to Tonga, where 15 percent of GDP is earned through tourism and recommends that whales need to be protected and conserved.
Since hunting was banned by royal decree in 1978, Tonga has become an important breeding ground for whales.
In 2006 alone, the report said more than 9,800 people went on whale watching trips, representing an increase of 20 percent annually since 1998.
IFAW Pacific Officer Olive Andrews said, “These important whales form the basis of the thriving whale watching industry in the region and are widely revered throughout the Kingdom of Tonga. Whales are clearly worth far more alive than dead.”
“Responsible whale and dolphin watching is a win-win solution for whales and people in Tonga, and has the potential to provide important economic opportunities to the people who live there,” she added.
The report was officially launched in Vava’u to mark Tofua Day or National Whale Festival.
It coincides with the whales’ return to Tongan waters after spending the summer in their feeding grounds in the Antarctic and is a day of celebration with music, presentations of school art projects and dance groups.
