By Pesi Fonua

TONGA'S Whale Watching Industry appears to be in a state of stagnation, particularly at the popular tourist destination of Vava'u, where experienced operators are blaming everything from ad hoc government policy on licensing to a poor domestic air service for the failure to reach expected growth.

Puluno Toke, the Tonga Visitor's Bureau officer in Vava'u, confirmed this week that only 3,000 whale watchers had visited Vava'u during the 2007 season.

The figure is lower than expected considering the publicity and the popularity of whale watching in Vava'u in the late 1990s.

But, according to Puluno, "3,000 has been consistent during the past 10 years."

When the 'Eva magazine ran a story on Whale Watching in Vava'u in the year 2,000, the number of whale watchers had increased from 6,000 in 1993 to 16,000 in 1998, and at that time they were expecting that the figure could reach about 20,000.

But instead of going up the number of whale watchers went down, and has stayed down, as pointed out by Puluno during the past 10 years.

Poor air service

Ongo Kaihea of Sailing Safaris, who has been with the industry since its inception in 1992, pointed out that a poor air service to Vava'u was one definite reason, and "an unreliable domestic air service, and the riot last year have shied away many visitors this year."

Ongo also believed that ad hoc decisions made the Ministry for Tourism does not help either. He said that as they were preparing for this season, which ran from July to October, the Ministry came out with a policy decision that each operator should have only two boats. Ongo had just ordered a new barge, and at that stage he had five boats in the water, two barges and three speed boats.

"Barges are for the day trippers, but there are professional clients who demand a different kind of service, the professional photographers and the film makers who demand a faster boat and would like to move in closer to the whale."

Ongo said that the ministry had threatened to take away his licence, but he had no other option because his clients were arriving.

"Clients make a big effort to be here and I have to honour our contract."

On that note, Ongo also believed that the Ministry was issuing too many Whale Watching Operator's licences. There were 13 licence holders this year.

"The problem is that many are new to the industry and have not had proper training for the service, they are chasing the whales all over the place, and they are scaring the whales away."

Whales are supposed to visit Vava'u annually to give birth and to mate, a very romantic time of their life cycle, and Ongo believed that that is why it is possible for people to get so close to the whales, and to even touch them.

New operators

Meanwhile, Puluno Toke did not think that there should be any worry from long-time operators like Ongo, over competition from new comers, "because there are only two main operators, one is Sailing Safaris and the other is Whale Watch Vava'u. The rest go out may be twice or four times during the season."

A new whale-watching operator to Vava'u who just started last year, Karen Varnvell, of the Dive Vava'u. Karen, said that this year's whale-watching season has been very good for Dive Vava'u and its four owners. This year they have attracted around 650 whale watchers and most of them were from the United States.

"We catered for famous underwater photographers, conservationists and Greenpeace personnel who came to document the whales."

Karen, from England said that last season they did well as newcomers, but this season proved to be better and they are targeting to do even better next year.