World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Tonga warns whale tour operators over rule breaches
Tourists travel to Tonga’s Vava’u Islands each year to see humpback whales and, where permitted, swim near them.
The whales migrate from Antarctica to the warm waters of Tonga to give birth, and about 2,000 visit the islands each year.
Tonga allows swimming but bans diving and touching, under rules intended to govern encounters with the animals.
The growing industry brings about 20,000 tourists and roughly $12 million in revenue to Tonga each year.
Videos appear to show tourists breaking the rules, while local operators say misleading advertising makes it harder to enforce them.
Tonga has warned several operators, and the Elim Hotel had its licence suspended for six weeks and its fleet reduced to one boat after guests posted footage of diving with whales.
Marine experts warn that whale encounters could harm the population’s sustainability, but the available information does not say what further action is planned.
Tonga’s government has warned multiple whale-tour operators over breaches of whale-watching regulations.
The rules prohibit touching or diving with whales, although swimming alongside them is permitted.
The Elim Hotel had its licence suspended for six weeks and its fleet reduced to one boat after guests posted footage of themselves diving with whales.
Videos on social media appear to show tourists breaking the rules, while marine experts warn that swimming with whales could harm the population’s sustainability.
Whale tourism draws about 20,000 visitors to Tonga each year and generates about $12 million in annual revenue.
- Who
- Tonga’s government and whale-tour operators, including the Elim Hotel.
- What
- The government has warned multiple operators over rule breaches; Elim had its licence suspended for six weeks and its fleet reduced to one boat.
- When
- The report was published on October 31, 2026. The warnings’ dates are not stated.
- Where
- Tonga, including the Vava’u Islands.
- Why
- Operators were warned over breaches of whale-watching rules, including allowing tourists to dive with whales.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Elim Hotel had its licence suspended for six weeks and its fleet reduced to one boat.
ABC Australia published its report on rule breaches and warnings to whale-tour operators in Tonga.
- Annual whale-tourists
- About 20,000
- Annual tourism revenue
- About $12 million
- Humpback whales visiting Tonga
- About 2,000 each year
- Elim Hotel licence suspension
- Six weeks
- Elim Hotel fleet after penalty
- One boat
What people are saying
Diving down underwater is prohibited, but they did it.
They simply cannot stop their diving.
It's like a treasure to see all this biodiversity and all these whales. I'm feeling lucky that I get a chance to see it.