A new wave of research has cast a sobering light on the enduring threat posed by marine tourism to Mexico’s iconic ocean wildlife, despite the existence of regulations meant to protect it. The latest scientific findings reveal that popular activities such as whale watching and swimming with whale sharks, long seen as pillars of sustainable travel, are falling short of safeguarding vulnerable species in Mexico’s treasured marine sanctuaries. These results hold key lessons for coastal nations like Thailand, where marine tourism and conservation must coexist amid growing visitor numbers.
Each winter, hundreds of humpback whales journey from Alaska to Bahía de Banderas on Mexico’s Pacific coast, drawn to its warm waters for mating, birthing, and nurturing their calves. This bay, flanked by booming tourist destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, is every year visited by tens of thousands of sightseers eager for close encounters with these majestic animals. Official regulations, set by the country’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) since 2011, were supposed to ensure safe distances and responsible behavior from tour operators. However, recently published research in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management paints a troubling picture: on nearly nine out of ten whale-watching trips monitored over four years, at least one rule protecting the whales was violated (Inside Climate News).
The study involved direct observations on 73 sightseeing tours, evaluating compliance with five key SEMARNAT guidelines regarding boat approach angles, minimum distances, and maximum observation times. Of 303 observed whale encounters, 88 percent breached at least one of the prescribed rules. Notably, more than a third of these situations involved mothers and calves—animals particularly susceptible to stress and energy depletion. “These vulnerable groups come to Bahía de Banderas only to reproduce, surviving months without feeding,” noted a lead biologist and doctoral candidate from the University of Guadalajara. “When tourism pressure forces them to expend more energy just to avoid boats, the impact can affect not just individual whales, but entire populations.”
Why are rules flouted so frequently? The study’s authors highlight several causes. Weather conditions, a lack of navigational tools, and — critically — the social dynamic between eager tourists and tour operators all contribute. According to a conservation biology professor at Baja California’s leading research institution, “Tourists often insist on approaching whales more closely or want to see dramatic leaping behaviors, pushing guides to break the rules to give customers the experiences and photos they’ve come to expect. There’s ignorance on the part of visitors and a strong incentive for service providers to ‘deliver’ for tips.”
This disconnect, experts say, is often exacerbated by tourists’ misconceptions—many are influenced by viral images of tourists interacting with gray whales in northern Mexico, unaware that those experiences are both different and heavily regulated. Studies show that most whale-watching participants in Bahía de Banderas are international visitors, particularly from the US and Canada, with limited awareness of local conservation rules.
The problems extend beyond whales. In a parallel study published in Marine Mammal Science, researchers assessed dolphin-watching compliance in Quintana Roo’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The result was even more dire: 98 percent of observed encounters disregarded existing guidelines, putting dolphins at significant risk of disruption.
A third case, involving whale sharks in Bahía de la Paz, illustrates the complexity of marine tourism management. There, swimming excursions with these gentle giants rapidly gained popularity after 2000. While a SEMARNAT management plan and subsequent expansion of protected status in 2018 sought to limit harm, recent research by Whale Shark Mexico indicates that between half and 60 percent of whale sharks still bear injuries from tourist boats—despite regular training and widespread awareness among guides. Rather than deliberate negligence, these injuries appear to be the unintended consequence of well-meaning but poorly managed tourism pressure. The executive director of Whale Shark Mexico noted, “We see everything from cuts to amputations — almost all caused by boat strikes during tourist activities.”
Researchers propose stricter, more adaptive management solutions. For whale sharks, shifting from a static cap on boat numbers to a dynamic model based on shark population monitoring is recommended. They also urge direct government oversight—particularly from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA)—in critical habitat zones. Enforcement powers, such as suspending non-compliant operators’ permits, are seen as essential tools to strengthen compliance.
Education is also crucial. Public awareness campaigns, for both tourists and operators, can help bridge the ‘expectation gap’ and encourage more responsible behaviors. “Many global studies show that well-targeted awareness efforts can dramatically improve compliance—if tourists understand why the rules exist, they’ll stop pressuring guides for close or prolonged encounters,” observed the lead researcher from Bahía de Banderas.
Despite these challenges, marine tourism is repeatedly acknowledged as an economic lifeline for local communities. Experts stress that properly managed ecotourism can match, or even improve on, conventional ‘sun and sand’ tourism models. “There are real conservation benefits—revenues fund habitat protection and provide alternatives to exploitative industries like fishing. But as tourism grows, so too must our oversight and responsiveness,” said Whale Shark Mexico’s director. The experience of overwhelmed tourist hotspots like Cancún provides a cautionary tale: without adaptive strategy, even sustainable tourism claims can ring hollow.
For Thailand, where marine and coastal tourism is both a source of pride and a vital engine of the economy, the Mexican case study offers several pressing lessons. Destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Phi Phi regularly host huge numbers of international visitors seeking marine wildlife experiences, including dolphin-watching, snorkeling with turtles, and diving with sharks. The challenges facing Mexican regulators—balancing local economic benefits, tourist expectations, and conservation—are directly echoed in Thailand’s own debates about the health of coral reefs, the safety of marine mammals, and the integrity of national parks.
In recent years, Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has responded to overtourism impacts by closing sensitive areas for recovery, setting visitor caps, and proposing new regulations for marine activities (Bangkok Post). Ongoing research projects, often in collaboration with local universities and international organizations, monitor the status of key species and habitats such as the dugongs in Trang province and whale sharks off Koh Tao (UNESCO), (Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand). However, as in Mexico, enforcement remains a recurring weakness. Insufficient numbers of trained rangers, limited patrol budgets, unclear communication of rules to foreign tourists, and pressure from local business interests are all cited by Thai marine biologists and park officials.
A marine conservation academic from a leading Thai university explained in an interview that “the root of the problem is often not the regulations themselves, but the low level of enforcement and weak understanding among both service providers and tourists.” This observation aligns closely with the recommendations emerging from the Mexican research: simply issuing guidelines is insufficient unless accompanied by robust monitoring, meaningful penalties for violations, and sustained public engagement.
The cultural context in Thailand also shapes the challenges and opportunities for marine tourism management. Concepts such as “Nam Jai” (น้ำใจ—generosity or consideration for others) and “rak pa chat” (รักป่าชาติ—love of nature) are frequently invoked in Thai campaigns promoting environmental stewardship, adding a local resonance to global sustainability goals. Integrating cultural values with evidence-based practice may help foster more widespread acceptance of sometimes disruptive changes, such as limiting boat numbers or instituting seasonal closures.
Looking ahead, the ongoing Mexican experience suggests several potential future developments relevant for Thailand’s marine tourism industry:
- Increased use of real-time monitoring and adaptive management approaches, allowing limits on visitor numbers or boat access to be tailored to exact conditions and animal numbers.
- Intensified cooperation between government, academic, and private sectors, ensuring both compliance and community benefit.
- Greater emphasis on visitor education, with multilingual guidelines and interpretative materials given to tourists prior to excursions.
- Deployment of technological solutions such as GPS tracking for boats, automated observation of animal movements, and incident-reporting apps.
- Expansion of citizen science programs, empowering local and visiting enthusiasts to document and flag non-compliance in real time.
Thai policymakers, tour operators, and conservation groups can draw on Mexican and global research to refine their approach. Before heading to Thailand’s coasts this season, potential tourists are advised to:
- Choose only licensed tour providers who are transparent about and committed to following conservation guidelines.
- Learn about the biology and behavioral needs of marine animals they hope to see.
- Resist the temptation to pressure guides for closer approaches or more intrusive encounters.
- Support local conservation initiatives through donations, volunteering, or citizen-science participation.
- Share knowledge with fellow tourists about the importance of responsible wildlife encounters.
Ultimately, the battle to make marine tourism a boon rather than a bane for wildlife will not be won solely in regulatory meetings or academic reports, but in the everyday choices made by travelers, guides, operators, and local officials alike. By taking inspiration from research-led best practices, both Mexico and Thailand can aim to protect their natural heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Citations:
Inside Climate News
Ocean & Coastal Management Journal
Marine Mammal Science Journal
Bangkok Post – “Marine park closures aim to protect coral”
UNESCO – Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand