Scientific Literature: Searchable Database

Whalewatching is one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world. In 1998, this industry was estimated to be worth US$1 billion worldwide, and it continues to grow at a 12.1% rate per annunm. In 2008 Latin America whale tourism was estimated 886,000 people went whalewatching resulting in US$278 million in direct and indirect expenditures (Hoyt & Iñiguez, 2008). Ecuador is among the top five countries involved in whalewatching in Latin America (Hoyt & Iñiguez, 2008). MNP supports a growing whalewatching industry that focuses on the Southern Hemisphere humpback whale population. La Isla de La Plata was the first whale-watching site in Ecuador.