Estimated USD 300 mn and above per year from manta ray tourism study

The study on the topic of "Valuing conservation and natural wealth: The blue economy of manta ray watching in the Maldives" in collaboration with Australia's Sunshine Coast University shows manta ray tourism in Maldives in 2021 generated around USD 227.3 million in revenue.

This includes USD 39 million from dives for manta ray watching and snorkeling trips, and USD 188 million in miscellaneous tourism expenditure. This amounts to 2.6 percent of Maldives' gross domestic product (GDP).

Manta Trust and Maldives Manta Conservation Program took part in the study, which reads that manta ray tourism has grown by 380 percent compared to 2008. It also reads that 80 percent of tourism service providers now offer manta ray watching services.

"Our findings revealed that manta rays hold intrinsic value and cultural significance within local communities. Acknowledging this, the flow-on benefits to the community extend beyond this industry, reaching local businesses, employed staff, and the government with the direct economic benefits of the manta ray tourism industry are estimated at over USD 311 million per year," reads the study published in June.

Credit - edition.mv