Whale safaris on the up

Whale safari businesses experienced huge growth in 2009, and are now gearing up for an even bigger 2010 season.

Both international and Norwegian tourists want to see whales when in the popular whale watching areas of Lofoten and Vesteraalen, Tromso and Andenes.

Growth despite tough market

Arctic Whale Tours in Vesteraalen can boast of a 21 per cent increase for 2009. A total of 3,900 people joined their tours in 2009, writes Reiselivsavisen.no.

In Andenes, the company Hvalsafari AS took a total of 12,800 tourists whale watching in 2009, an increase of 11.6 per cent.

“We´re really happy with last year´s growth, especially as the travel industry was experiencing a slump in foreign visitors,” says Hvalsafari´s Annbjorg Gjerdrum to Reiselivsavisen.no.

Gears up for the 2010 season

With such a great season in 2009, both companies are looking forward to the start of the new season. Both have also invested in new, faster boats.

“In our new boat we can do several tours out to the Bleiksdjup area in one day. It is much faster and will open up a new market for us targeting groups and businesses. In the new boat, the safari takes only two hours, as opposed to four or five with the other boats,” Gjerdrum says to Reiselivsavisen.no.

A safari with Hvalsafari AS will cost 830NOK this year, whilst Arctic Whale Tours come in at just under 800NOK.