Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Watching and Ecotourism Project
C.A. Warburton, E.C.M. Parsons, A. Woods-Ballard, A. Hughes and P. Johnston
Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust1st March 2001
The aim of this paper is to provide a short appraisal of the above research contract which was recently completed.
Aims and Objectives
- To discover the importance of whale-watching to the economy of rural West Scotland.
- To research the extent to which tourism expenditure is dependent on whale and dolphin watching.
- To investigate the level of local and tourist awareness of cetaceans in West Scotland.
- To discover who goes on whale-watching tours in West Scotland and why.
Methods Employed
- During the tourist season of 2000, four sets of interview surveys were conducted with a total of 32 boat operators, 8 visitor-centre managers and 324 tourists on whale-watching trips.
- In addition, 673 tourists and 189 residents were interviewed to record the perceived importance of this industry for the local community and tourism in general.
- From the information provided a profile of whale-watchers was created, as well as an overview of the whale-watching industry in the region.
- Furthermore, the information gathered allowed estimates to be calculated for the economic value of this specialist sector of the Scottish tourism industry.
Conclusion
- The survey results showed that the majority of whale-watchers in West Scotland are well educated, middle-class, mature and British.
- The majority of whale-watchers only become aware of cetacean-watching trips when they arrive in the region. However, 23% of whale-watchers visit the region specifically to go on whale-watching trips.
- An estimated 241,952 tourists are involved with whale-tourism activities annually in West Scotland.
- 115 jobs are provided by whale-watching tourism in West Scotland.
- 47% of whale-watching operators considered the industry to be important to the local economy.
- Whale-related tourism accounted for 1.8% of the total income from tourism in the region. In remote coastal areas, whale-related tourism may account for as much as 12% of the area's total tourism income.
- The direct economic income from whale-watching activities was estimated to be £1,767,971 per annum.
- 16% of whale-watching tourists stayed in the region extra nights as a result of whale-watching, which represents a further £0.9 million in additional tourism income.
- In addition, the associated expenditure (accommodation, travel, food etc) from tourists visiting rural West Scotland specifically to go whale-watching represents an additional £5.1 million in tourism income for the region.
- The total income generated by whale-tourism in rural West Scotland was estimated to be £7.8 million.
Whale watching in West Scotland: a profile of whale-watching tourists, the level of awareness of cetaceans, and the economic impacts of whale-watching on the economy of rural West Scotland can be obtained from:
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Main Street, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Argyll PA75 6NU, Scotland(e-mailhwdt@sol.co.ukhttp://www.hwdt.org)
The Research Findings Fact Sheet may be photocopied, or further copies can be obtained from www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/index.htm or by writing to Sponsorship and Procurement Branch, DEFRA, Zone 1/06b, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square ,Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB.
Published 9 August 2001
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