Abstract:
Dolphin and whale watching is a new and blooming activity in Sri Lankan tourism
industry. However, lack of data on activities and utilization of resources leads inefficiency
of managing the resources and activities. Therefore, a scientific and socioeconomic
approach is needed for the understanding and the management of whale watching
activities, particularly in the Southern coast of Sri Lanka.
A socio-economic survey was carried out in Mirissa in southern coast of Sri Lanka
from May 2011 to May 2012. The relevant data and information were collected through
prima^ nd secondary sources, through interviews with different stakeholders using prestruct>
. questionnaires. Secondary data were collected from different official reports
and pu cations. According to the survey considerable proportion of the whale watching
industi depends on foreign visitors whp came from 45 countries, where the majority
were fi\ . England, Germany, France, India, Russia & China. The total income generated
from May of 2011 to May of 2012 was about LKR 294,767,058.70. From this, 98.52% (LKR
290,410,999.20) had been earned during the whale watching season (from October to
May) where the highest monthly income (LKR 62,282,158.00) was earned during January
2012. Female were high among foreign visitors and highest number of foreigners were
obtained among 45 to 60 years old. Retaining time in Sri Lanka of higher percentage of
foreigners was two weeks and prefer to Southern coast was only one week. Their experience
of whale watching and the satisfaction level of majority of them were “very good”.
Therefore, whale watching industry is a highly foreign income generating industry
and it may directly contribute to total tourism industry. But with the development of
the industry it may negatively impacts on cetacean population. Therefore, a better understanding
and a management system is needed to ensure the sustainability of this high
profit industry.
