Abstract:
Visitation to marine wildlife viewing tours has increased steadily in the last few
decades. Despite concerns over negative impacts, one of the anticipated benefits to
wildlife viewing is increased visitor support for marine conservation. In this study, sea
otters were used as a case study to determine how wildlife viewing may alter visitor
attitudes and behavioural intentions towards marine conservation. In particular, the
effects of the inclusion of interpretation in marine wildlife observation were analysed.
This study includes the experiences of marine wildlife visitors to boat-based tours in
Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, as well as the experiences of visitors to
the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. A questionnaire was used to determine
the importance of sea otters to wildlife viewing tours, how both aquarium and boat-based
wildlife viewing experiences influence visitor learning, and what implications this has for
marine conservation. Sea otters were found to be important incidentally-viewed species
in the boat-based tours. Sea otters were oftentimes not the main draw, but visitors very
much enjoyed their presence. The provision of interpretation on its own affected visitor
attitudes and behavioural intentions. However, the most significant difference in the
promotion of conservation attitudes and behaviours was when the observation of sea
otters was coupled with interpretation regarding sea otters. The same trend was observed
in both the boat-based tours in Tofino and the captive wildlife viewing at the aquarium.
These results indicate that the most important role of the tour guide is in locating marine
species, and providing targeted interpretation about the species during observation. Thus,
marine wildlife tourism can increase overall visitor support for marine conservation
through affecting attitudes and behaviours.
