KEY POINTS:
Whale and dolphin watching is one of the fastest growing industries in the Pacific, injecting millions of dollars into local economies, according to a report released today.
The Pacific Islands Whale Watch Tourism Report was released by Pacific Island whale watching industry leaders at their first meeting in Auckland.
The report said there had been "spectacular growth of the whale and dolphin watching industry and its marked contribution to the economy in the region".
The report found there were 110,746 whale watchers in the Pacific region in 2005 compared to just 10,309 in 1998.
The number of countries with whale watch operations had increased from nine in 1998 to 14 in 2005.
Over the seven-year period direct expenditure on whale and dolphin tourism had increased from US$500,000 ($634,899) to over US$7.5 million ($9.66million).
The industry clearly played an important role in Pacific tourism and would continue to grow, the report found.
- NZPA
