Visitation and economic impact of whale shark tourism in a Maldivian marine protected area
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PreprintKAUST Department
Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) DivisionMarine Science Program
Date
2018-01-12Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/668774
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Whale sharks are a major attraction for tourist divers and snorkelers in South Ari Atoll, Maldives. Yet without information regarding the use and economic extent of the attraction, it is difficult to prioritize conservation or implement effective management plans. Using empirical recreational data and generalized mixed models, this study provides the first economic valuation—via direct spend—of whale shark tourism in Maldives. We estimate that direct expenditure on whale shark excursions in the South Ari Marine Protected Area for 2012–2013 at US$7.6 and $9.4 million, respectively. These expenditures are based on an estimate of 72 to 78 thousand tourists who are involved in whale shark excursions annually. This level of visitation and expenditure highlights the need to implement regulations and management which can safeguard the sustainability of the industry through ensuring guest satisfaction and whale shark conservation.Citation
Cagua, E. F., Collins, N. M., Hancock, J., & Rees, R. (2014). Visitation and economic impact of whale shark tourism in a Maldivian marine protected area. doi:10.7287/peerj.preprints.360v1Sponsors
Funding for this research was made possible through the generous donations from MWSRP volunteers, sponsorship by Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, and programmatic and financial support from the IUCN Global Marine Program and Global Blue. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Publisher
PeerJAdditional Links
https://peerj.com/preprints/360v1ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.7287/peerj.preprints.360v1