How many people go whale watching in Encounter Bay?
It is difficult to quantify precise numbers, as most whale watchers are independent travellers who view the whales from land. One estimate suggests that during a ‘good’ season (with lots of sightings), over 200,000 whale watchers will visit the region, invest $9million into the economy. As well as spending directly on whale tours, these tourists will also contribute indirectly to the economy through their purchases of petrol, food, accommodation, souvenirs etc. The SA Whale Centre services thousands of enquiries about whale watching. From June to September, the Centre has an average of 20,000 people visit its Whale Info Booth, and another 8,000 call the SA Whale Info Hotline (1900 931 223).