Whale-watching industry draws more tourists to SA

GREG Vogt, ceo of the MTN Whale Route is hesitant to say that tourists specifically come out to South Africa to do whale-watching - SA does attract a diversity of species - but admits that it is a draw factor to the country in the whale-season, especially in August and September. "It is a fact that a number of people will put on their departure forms that they're coming to the Cape to whale-watch, while few may say they're here specifically to go to the Kruger National Park, but that doesn't necessarily mean the one industry has surpassed the other in popularity. Game and whales are both strong drawcards." Vogt says that since the infrastructure has been in place for the Cape, and more recently, for KwaZulu Natal, South Africa has made an impact as a prime whale-watching destination, with the industry currently growing at a rate of 112% - the fastest-growing tourism industry in South Africa." (Adéle Mackenzie)