Hector’s dolphins are big earners
A report by Opodo says that visitors to New Zealand spent $NZ24m on dolphin watching trips last year, according to figures sourced by the World Wildlife Fund.
Data from the New Zealand ministry of tourism shows that around 103,000 people took part in dolphin watching and swimming last year.
The south island tourism industry currently focuses on Hector’s dolphins and the WWF said that the contribution they make to the economy is another reason to work towards protecting the species.
Hector’s dolphins live only in New Zealand and have seen their numbers drop by around 70% since the 1970s, according to the WWF.
Chris Howe, executive director of WWF New Zealand, said, “Obviously, Hector’s dolphins are in fact priceless”
“They are amazing creatures and live only in New Zealand, but their economic value is another reason to protect them.”
If you’d like to see this destination for yourself, use Opodo’s travel search engine to find flights, hotels, holidays and car hire worldwide.
A Report by The Mole from Opodo
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