Indeed, there isn’t anything like a whale watching. This recreational activity does not only provide a glimpse of such magnificently large creatures but it also creates commercial activity worth $1 billion every year.

Whales are considered as natural resources. Watching these titanic mammals glide through the blue is always something exciting to watch and observe.

Although this activity may seem like something new, whale tourism actually dates back to 1950 when the San Diego Cabrillo National Monument was used as a public spot for watching gray whales.

Customers were then charged $1 to view the whales at a closer range. This proved to be popular among visitors as it generated 10,000 tourists in its first year. From there, the industry continued to spread throughout the northern and western part of the United States.

Today, whale watching has become a tourist spectacle not only in the US but in other regions as well. Countries such as the Philippines, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, France, and Great Britain boasts wonderful whale watching spots.

On the other hand, the countries of Norway, Iceland, and Japan are considered as the top whaling nations today.  Between 1994 and 1998, these three countries have increasingly grown and improved their whale watching industry.