Once hunted to near extinction, whales used to be an important resource for their blubber, meat, and baleen. More recently, they have proven to be more valuable alive. Alaskan waters are rich feeding grounds for several whale species. They’ve also become an increasingly popular place for visitors to view these amazing creatures feeding, breaching, and socializing. Among Alaska’s 2.2 million summer visitors in 2019, about one quarter embarked on a whale watching tour.
According to a new study, more than half a million visitors — about 553,000 people — who came to Alaska last year spent an estimated $86 million on whale watching tours. This confirms that whale watching is an important economic driver.
The study was conducted by McDowell Group and funded by NOAA Fisheries. It measured the economic impacts of 55 businesses and 187 vessels engaged in paid whale watching tours in Alaska’s coastal waters from Ketchikan to Unalaska. Based on data from 2019, the study represents a pre-pandemic baseline:
- Statewide, whale watching directly supported 850 jobs and $23.4 million in labor income
- The multiplier effects of direct spending circulating in the Alaska economy resulted in an additional 255 jobs and $13.9 million in labor income
- Statewide, industry employment impacts, including all multiplier effects, are estimated at 1,105 jobs and $37.3 million in labor income
- The total economic footprint of whale watching in Alaska is estimated at $103 million in total output (a measure of all industry-related spending in Alaska)
Whale watching supports more than a thousand jobs in Alaska. This study demonstrates that healthy whale populations underpin important economic activity for people, businesses, and communities throughout coastal Alaska.
“The whale watching industry in Alaska has grown significantly over the last decade, particularly in Juneau,” said Bob Koenitzer, Senior Consultant for McDowell Group. “Prior to this study, there was no research that quantified passenger volume and revenue. It's exciting to see that in 2019 there were more than half a million paid whale watching passengers generating tour sales of $86 million. Wildlife viewing is the top visitor activity in Alaska and images of whales are used extensively in marketing the state to visitors.”
Juneau is by far the dominant whale watching port in Alaska, with 367,000 paid whale watching tours in 2019, or two thirds of the state’s total.
“As far as we can tell, Juneau is the largest whale watching destination in the world and likely has a larger fleet and higher passenger volume than any other whale-watching port,” said Dr. Suzie Teerlink, marine mammal specialist with NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Regional Office.
- Juneau is home to approximately 20 whale watching businesses running 68 vessels with combined seating capacity for 2,900 passengers
- Average tour duration is two to four hours with many vessels conducting multiple tours daily
- In 2019, Juneau’s whale watching industry directly employed 460 workers earning $13.1 million in labor income
- Total economic impacts (direct and indirect impacts combined) in Juneau are estimated at $57.8 million including $20.3 million in labor income and 590 jobs
In Seward, the state’s second largest whale watching destination, an estimated 93,400 visitors participated in a paid whale watching tour.
- The industry employed 220 workers in Seward, earning $5.9 million in labor income
- In Seward, total impacts (direct and indirect impacts combined) are estimated at $24.3 million including $9.5 million in labor income and 290 jobs
The study team estimated that one million additional Alaska visitors did not pay for whale watching tours but were able to view whales from cruise ships, Alaska Marine Highway vessels, while engaging in guided saltwater sportfishing, and/or from Alaska’s roadways and harbors.
NOAA Fisheries commissioned the study to document the economic benefits of the whale watching industry and to better understand the importance of healthy whale populations to local economies.
“The magnitude of economic benefits revealed by this study is surprising. We have always known that whales are an important part of our ecosystems and icons of Alaska’s wildness, but it is important to consider the benefits they can bring to local economies through sustainable whale watching practices,” said Teerlink. “We are lucky to have such incredible marine wildlife to share with visitors and our goal is to preserve the opportunity to view these extraordinary and fascinating creatures long into the future.”
