Match Point: Watching versus Catching The Influence of Whaling for the Whale Watching Tourism Industry in Iceland

Abstract

Watching whales in their natural environment can be an unforgettable experience. In the last twenty years, on an international scale, whale watching has become increasingly popular among tourists. Still some countries engage in whaling, which is challenging for the whale watching tourism industry. The aim of this study is to determine if and how the whaling in Iceland influences tourists and whale watching tour operators. To acquire a deeper insight into the situation, two surveys were conducted; one by phone and one on location in Iceland, during the summer of 2007. The study findings show that whaling puts pressure on tour operators and slightly impacts the influx of international tourists coming to Iceland. Whaling seems to have only a minor influence on the perception of Iceland as a tourist destination, however, it is uncertain if the image of Iceland remains intact. The co-existence of whaling and whale watching in Iceland is questionable in the long-term as it is damaging the country’s whale watching industry.