The influx of tourists interested in seeing the whale shark has increased since August in Holbox, especially since the end of the European Championship and the Paris Olympic Games, said Manuel Escamilla, mayor of the island.
In the framework of the International Whale Shark Day, the local official said that, since this holiday was decreed, he has noticed a lot of interest from tourists to learn about and help in the conservation of this species. He added that this interest in whale shark sightings has translated into profits for around 200 tourism service providers who have seen their sales increase by more than 100 percent.
He explained that the cost per tourist for the tour to see the largest fish on the planet ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 pesos (130 dollars). In addition, the mayor highlighted that European tourism is the one that has shown the most interest in this ecotourism activity.
Finally, Escamilla reported that, to commemorate the International Whale Shark Day, the Lázaro Cárdenas City Council will hold evening conferences to continue raising awareness about the importance of caring for this endangered species.
Source: reportur
