Tonga, a popular destination for whale-swimming, has carefully balanced its tourism appeal with marine conservation efforts as other countries, like Mauritius, crack down on irresponsible whale-watching practices.
In Mauritius, authorities are enforcing stricter regulations due to an influx of influencers from China and Taiwan seeking viral social media photos of themselves swimming with whales. This has led to chaos in cetacean habitats, disrupting breeding whales. Mauritius now bans swimming with whales, with hefty fines and jail time for violators.
Tonga, however, continues to offer regulated whale-swimming tours. The Tonga Tourism Authority, along with operators like Endangered Encounters, allows small groups to swim with whales, emphasizing that all decisions are made based on the whales’ behavior.
Marine conservation expert Yu Hsin-yee highlights Tonga’s approach, where guides observe whale behavior before permitting interactions. Taiwanese whale photographer Ray Chin has also noted that responsible operators in Tonga avoid disrupting mother whales with calves.
While Tonga remains a key whale-watching destination, it faces ongoing pressure to ensure that conservation remains a priority amidst growing tourism demand.
Source: Radio Free Asia
