{"id":2999,"date":"2021-10-14T08:15:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T08:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.madagascarwhalesharks.org\/?p=2999"},"modified":"2021-10-14T08:15:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T08:15:28","slug":"press-release-investigating-the-economic-value-of-whale-shark-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/press-release-investigating-the-economic-value-of-whale-shark-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Investigating the economic value of whale shark tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"<h5>(Version Fran\u00e7aise ci-dessous)<\/h5>\n<h3>New study values Madagascar&rsquo;s whale shark tourism industry at $1.5 million amid calls to improve protection for this endangered species<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The three-month whale shark tourism season in Nosy Be (NW Madagascar) has been valued at US$1.5 million <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Tourists who visit specifically to swim with whale sharks spend 55 percent more ($901,274) than \u2018casual\u2019 whale shark tourists ($581,239)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Calls for sustainable tourism measures to protect whale sharks are overwhelmingly supported by operators and tourists <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>4 percent of tourists are more likely to choose a destination if whale sharks were protected.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A new study published today in the journal <em>Tourism in Marine Environments <\/em>has valued the whale shark tourism industry in Madagascar\u2019s Nosy Be for the first time, with the three-month season worth US$1.5 million to the local economy.* The study has revealed the economic benefit that whale sharks provide as the region prepares for the return of tourists following COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Stella Diamant, project leader and Founder of the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, said: \u201cThis study has confirmed the importance of sustainable whale shark tourism to Madagascar\u2019s economy, particularly during its pandemic recovery. Considering the region\u2019s international reputation as a whale shark hotspot, and the presence of an international airport, it\u2019s likely that its shark tourism industry will grow considerably once international travel resumes.<\/p>\n<p>The study found that \u2018dedicated\u2019 whale shark divers \u2013 travellers who visited specifically to swim with whale sharks \u2013 spent six times as much as \u2018casual\u2019 whale shark tourists (US$547 vs US$92 respectively). Despite making up just a fifth of respondents (20.5 percent), the expenditure of this group was worth 55 percent more overall (US$901,274) than causal whale shark divers (US$581,239).<\/p>\n<p>Both tourists (93.4 percent) and operators (91.7 percent) overwhelmingly support formal protections for whale sharks in Madagascar.**<\/p>\n<p>The majority (67.4 percent) of tourists stated they were more likely to choose a tourism destination if whale sharks were protected.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being globally endangered, whale sharks are not formally protected in Malagasy waters and are threatened by fisheries bycatch, collisions with vessels, and pollution. Tour operators overwhelmingly supported legal protection for whale sharks in Madagascar and highlighted the potential to introduce regulations to avoid overcrowding, as interest in swimming with the sharks grows internationally. Operators suggested levying fines or sanctions for anyone behaving irresponsibly around the sharks.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Jackie Ziegler from the University of Victoria in Canada, the lead author of the study, added: \u201cIt\u2019s far more difficult to scale back activities compared to managing tourism sustainably from the start. Our work has shown clear support from both tourism operators, and the tourists themselves, to ensure that swimming with whale sharks in Madagascar is a world-class ecotourism experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Simon Pierce, Principal Scientist at the Marine Megafauna Foundation, added \u201cMadagascar is best-known now for its amazing land animals, such as lemurs and chameleons, but the marine wildlife is equally spectacular. It\u2019s fantastic to see that Nosy Be tourism operators are committed to protecting these gentle giants as well as high-quality ecotourism.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013<\/p>\n<p>This study was led by the Madagascar Whale Shark Project in a collaboration between the University of Victoria, Marine Megafauna Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Florida International University. It was supported by MADA Megafauna, Aqua-Firma, Ocean Giants Trust, and the Vocatio Foundation, and in partnership with tourism operators Les Baleines Rand&rsquo;eau and Safari Baleine.<\/p>\n<p>Jackie Ziegler, Stella Diamant, Simon Pierce, Rhett Bennett and Jeremy J. Kiszka (2021) Economic value and public perceptions of whale shark tourism in Nosy Be, Madagascar Tourism in Marine Environments, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 167\u2013182. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3727\/154427321X16223819324721\">ttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.3727\/154427321X16223819324721<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>&#8212; Ends &#8212;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Notes to Editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>*The economic value of the whale shark tourism industry in Nosy Be was estimated using mean expenditures per person for both \u2018dedicated\u2019 and \u2018casual\u2019 whale shark divers. The estimated value of the whale shark tourism industry in Nosy Be was US$1.5 million for the three-month 2019 season (September to December). \u2018Dedicated\u2019 whale shark divers spent 55 percent more money overall (US$901,274) and six times the amount individually (mean expenditures per person: US$547) compared to \u2018casual\u2019 whale shark divers (mean expenditures per person: US$92; overall estimated expenditures: US$581,239).<\/p>\n<p>** Data was collected through 488 tourist surveys (in French or English) collected from October to November 2019. These self-administered questionnaires collected demographic data and travellers\u2019 opinions on their whale shark experience, the importance of whale sharks in their decision to visit Nosy Be, expenditure during their trip (not including flights) and whether they would be more likely to choose a destination if whale sharks were protected. In addition, 12 of the 20 whale shark tour operators in Nosy Be took part in an online survey (December 2018) to better understand their perceptions of the region\u2019s whale shark conservation needs and management issues.<\/p>\n<p><strong>High-res supporting images <\/strong>can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1VuguuZ4Es-WtqylE2tV4BcuKS0vqRVQC?usp=sharing\">https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1VuguuZ4Es-WtqylE2tV4BcuKS0vqRVQC?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>For interview requests, questions about this study or to request a pdf copy<\/strong>, please contact:<\/p>\n<p>Stella Diamant, Founder, The Madagascar Whale Shark Project: info@madagascarwhalesharks.org<\/p>\n<p><strong>About the Madagascar Whale Shark Project <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Madagascar Whale Shark Project is a registered private foundation and a collaborative project. Founded in 2018, the foundation aims to further study and protect whale sharks in Madagascar while raising awareness and empowering local communities. For more information, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.madagascarwhalesharks.org\">https:\/\/www.madagascarwhalesharks.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Une nouvelle \u00e9tude \u00e9value \u00e0 1,5 Million $ US le tourisme du requin baleine \u00e0 Madagascar dans le cadre de demandes pour am\u00e9liorer la protection de cette esp\u00e8ce menac\u00e9e<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong> La saison touristique de trois mois des requin baleines \u00e0 Nosy Be (NW Madagascar) a \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9valu\u00e9e \u00e0 1,5 million $ US.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong> Les touristes venus pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment pour nager avec les requin baleines d\u00e9pensent 55 % de plus (901 274 $) que les touristes qui d\u00e9couvrent les requin baleines par hasard (581 239 $).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong> Les op\u00e9rateurs et les touristes appuient avec enthousiasme les appels \u00e0 des mesures de tourisme durable pour prot\u00e9ger les requins-baleines.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong> 88,9 % des touristes sont plus enclins \u00e0 choisir une destination o\u00f9 les requin baleines sont prot\u00e9g\u00e9s. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Une nouvelle \u00e9tude publi\u00e9e aujourd&rsquo;hui dans la revue <em>Tourism in Marine Environments<\/em> a \u00e9valu\u00e9 pour la premi\u00e8re fois l&rsquo;industrie du tourisme des requin baleines de Nosy Be \u00e0 Madagascar, chiffrant \u00e0 1,5 million de dollars la valeur de cette saison de trois mois pour l&rsquo;\u00e9conomie locale. * L&rsquo;\u00e9tude a soulign\u00e9 l&rsquo;avantage \u00e9conomique pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 par les requins-baleines alors que la r\u00e9gion se pr\u00e9pare au retour des touristes apr\u00e8s la COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Stella Diamant, charg\u00e9e de projet et fondatrice du Madagascar Whale Shark Project, a d\u00e9clar\u00e9 : \u00ab Cette \u00e9tude a confirm\u00e9 l&rsquo;importance du tourisme durable des requin baleines pour l&rsquo;\u00e9conomie de Madagascar, particuli\u00e8rement pendant sa relance post-pand\u00e9mique. Compte tenu de la r\u00e9putation internationale de la r\u00e9gion en tant que point chaud pour les requin baleines et de la pr\u00e9sence d&rsquo;un a\u00e9roport international, il est probable que le secteur touristique des requin baleines conna\u00eetra un essor consid\u00e9rable quand les voyages internationaux reprendront \u00bb.<\/p>\n<p>L&rsquo;\u00e9tude a r\u00e9v\u00e9l\u00e9 que les plongeurs \u00ab attir\u00e9s \u00bb par les requin baleines \u2013 les voyageurs venus pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment pour nager avec des requin baleines \u2013 ont d\u00e9pens\u00e9 six fois plus que les touristes qui ont d\u00e9couvert par hasard les requin baleines (soit 547 $ US par rapport \u00e0 92 $ US respectivement). Bien qu&rsquo;ils ne repr\u00e9sentent qu&rsquo;un cinqui\u00e8me des r\u00e9pondants (20,5 %), les d\u00e9penses du premier groupe devan\u00e7aient de 55 % dans l&rsquo;ensemble (901 274 $ US) celles des plongeurs occasionnels (581 239 $ US).<\/p>\n<p>En grande majorit\u00e9, les touristes (93,4\u00a0%) et les op\u00e9rateurs (91,7\u00a0%) soutiennent les protections formelles pour les requins-baleines \u00e0 Madagascar. **<\/p>\n<p>En majorit\u00e9 (88,9 %), les touristes ont d\u00e9clar\u00e9 qu&rsquo;ils \u00e9taient plus susceptibles de choisir une destination touristique si les requin baleines \u00e9taient prot\u00e9g\u00e9s.<\/p>\n<p>Bien qu&rsquo;ils soient menac\u00e9s d&rsquo;extinction \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle mondiale, les requin baleines ne sont pas officiellement prot\u00e9g\u00e9s dans les eaux malgaches et sont menac\u00e9s par les prises accessoires de la p\u00eache, les collisions avec les navires et la pollution. En majorit\u00e9, les voyagistes appuient la protection juridique des requin baleines \u00e0 Madagascar et ont soulign\u00e9 les avantages de la mise en place de r\u00e8glements pour \u00e9viter une trop grande affluence, alors que l\u2019attrait de nager avec les requins augmente \u00e0 l&rsquo;\u00e9chelle internationale. Les op\u00e9rateurs ont sugg\u00e9r\u00e9 d&rsquo;imposer des amendes ou des sanctions aux personnes ayant un comportement irresponsable \u00e0 proximit\u00e9 des requins.<\/p>\n<p>La D<sup>re<\/sup> Jackie Ziegler de l&rsquo;Universit\u00e9 de Victoria au Canada, auteure principale de l&rsquo;\u00e9tude, a ajout\u00e9 : \u00ab Il est beaucoup plus difficile de r\u00e9duire les activit\u00e9s que de g\u00e9rer le tourisme de mani\u00e8re durable d\u00e8s le d\u00e9part. Notre travail a r\u00e9v\u00e9l\u00e9 le soutien \u00e9vident non seulement des op\u00e9rateurs touristiques mais aussi des touristes eux-m\u00eames, pour garantir que nager avec les requin baleines \u00e0 Madagascar reste un example dans le monde du tourisme responsable. \u00bb<\/p>\n<p>Le D<sup>r<\/sup> Simon Pierce, chercheur principal \u00e0 la Fondation Marine Megafauna, a ajout\u00e9 : \u00ab Madagascar est aujourd&rsquo;hui surtout connue pour ses animaux terrestres captivants, comme les l\u00e9muriens et les cam\u00e9l\u00e9ons, mais la faune marine est tout aussi spectaculaire. Je trouve fantastique de voir que les op\u00e9rateurs touristiques de Nosy Be s&rsquo;engagent \u00e0 prot\u00e9ger ces gentils g\u00e9ants ainsi qu&rsquo;un \u00e9co-tourisme de haute qualit\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013<\/p>\n<p>Cette \u00e9tude a \u00e9t\u00e9 men\u00e9e par le Madagascar Whale Shark Project dans le cadre d&rsquo;une collaboration entre l&rsquo;Universit\u00e9 de Victoria, la Marine Megafauna Foundation, la Wildlife Conservation Society et la Florida International University. Il a \u00e9t\u00e9 soutenu par MADA Megafauna, Aqua-Firma, Ocean Giants Trust et la Fondation Vocatio.<\/p>\n<p>Jackie Ziegler, Stella Diamant, Simon Pierce, Rhett Bennett and Jeremy J. Kiszka (2021) Economic value and public perceptions of whale shark tourism in Nosy Be, Madagascar (<em>Valeur \u00e9conomique et perceptions du public du tourisme des requins-baleines \u00e0 Nosy Be, Madagascar<\/em>) Tourism in Marine Environments, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 167\u2013182. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3727\/154427321X16223819324721\">ttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.3727\/154427321X16223819324721<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>&#8212; Fin &#8212;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notes aux r\u00e9dacteurs :<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>*L\u2019\u00e9valuation de la valeur \u00e9conomique de l&rsquo;industrie touristique des requins-baleines \u00e0 Nosy Be a \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9alis\u00e9e en comparant les d\u00e9penses moyennes par personne des plongeurs \u00ab venus pour les requins-baleines \u00bb et celles des visiteurs occasionnels. En 2019, la valeur estim\u00e9e de l&rsquo;industrie touristique des requins-baleines \u00e0 Nosy Be a atteint 1,5 million $ US pendant la saison de trois mois (septembre \u00e0 d\u00e9cembre). Les plongeurs \u00ab venus pour les requins-baleines \u00bb ont d\u00e9pens\u00e9 55 % plus dans l&rsquo;ensemble (901 274 $ US) et six fois le montant individuel (d\u00e9penses moyennes par personne : 547 $ US) par rapport aux visiteurs occasionnels (d\u00e9penses moyennes par personne : 92 $ US; estimation globale d\u00e9penses : 581 239 $ US).<\/p>\n<p>** Donn\u00e9es recueillies \u00e0 l\u2019aide de 488 enqu\u00eates aupr\u00e8s de touristes (en fran\u00e7ais ou en anglais) r\u00e9alis\u00e9es d&rsquo;octobre \u00e0 novembre 2019. Ces questionnaires auto-administr\u00e9s ont r\u00e9uni des donn\u00e9es d\u00e9mographiques et les opinions des voyageurs \u00e0 propos de leur exp\u00e9rience requins-baleines, l&rsquo;importance des requins-baleines dans leur d\u00e9cision de visiter Nosy Be, leurs d\u00e9penses pendant leur voyage (hors vols) et s&rsquo;ils seraient plus enclins \u00e0 choisir une destination o\u00f9 les requins-baleines sont prot\u00e9g\u00e9s. De plus, 12 des 20 op\u00e9rateurs touristiques de requins-baleines \u00e0 Nosy Be ont \u00e9t\u00e9 invit\u00e9s \u00e0 participer \u00e0 une enqu\u00eate en ligne (d\u00e9cembre 2018) pour mieux comprendre leurs perceptions des besoins de conservation des requins-baleines et des probl\u00e8mes de gestion de la r\u00e9gion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Images haute r\u00e9solution<\/strong> ici\u00a0: <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1VuguuZ4Es-WtqylE2tV4BcuKS0vqRVQC?usp=sharing\">https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1VuguuZ4Es-WtqylE2tV4BcuKS0vqRVQC?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pour les demandes d&rsquo;entrevue, les questions sur cette \u00e9tude ou pour obtenir une copie PDF<\/strong>, veuillez contacter :<\/p>\n<p>Stella Diamant, Fondatrice, The Madagascar Whale Shark Project : info@madagascarwhalesharks.org<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00c0 propos du Madagascar Whale Shark Project<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Le Madagascar Whale Shark Project est une fondation priv\u00e9e et un projet collaboratif. Fond\u00e9e en 2018, la fondation a pour objectif d&rsquo;approfondir l&rsquo;\u00e9tude et la protection des requins-baleines \u00e0 Madagascar tout en sensibilisant et en responsabilisant les communaut\u00e9s locales. Pour plus d&rsquo;informations, visitez <a href=\"https:\/\/www.madagascarwhalesharks.org\">https:\/\/www.madagascarwhalesharks.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Version Fran\u00e7aise ci-dessous) New study values Madagascar&rsquo;s whale shark tourism industry at $1.5 million amid calls to improve protection for this endangered species The three-month whale shark tourism season in Nosy Be (NW Madagascar) has been valued at US$1.5 million [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2999\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madawhalesharks.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}