at 3.7 percent annual rate of increase. During this period, growth slowed in North America with its long-standing, relatively mature industry, while growth rates remained high in Asia (17 percent), Central America and the Caribbean (13 percent), South America (10 percent), Oceania and the Pacific Islands (10 percent) and Europe (7 percent). These growth rates were achieved despite downturns in the worldwide banking crisis. Of course, this does not mean that whale watching will be the most successful option, or even a suitable activity, in every area—just as not all areas are suitable for the development of tourism. But it does mean that there is a strong, worldwide, growing audience of whale watchers who are keen to experience these animals and to enjoy the sense of adventure, surprise, and camaraderie that comes with whale watching tours.

But with such large numbers of people involved, what about the issue of sustainability? Has whale watching become mass tourism, or is it still capable of being ecotourism, which by definition is sustainable? The answers to these questions mostly depend on how whale watching is set up—the blueprint.”

Excerpted from Whale Watching Blueprint – I. Setting up a marine ecotourism operation (2012). Kindle ebook available Feb. 2012 through all Amazon websites.