ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on tourist experience and economic benefits of the reef-adjoining dolphin watching industry in Lovina, Bali Indonesia in 2013. Tourist satisfaction was generally low, the tourists disliked the inconsiderate driving behaviours of the boatmen and satisfied tourists were more likely to rejoin the trip or recommend the trip to others. The industry’s total direct expenditures were ~USD 8.7 million p.a., with ~ USD 72,800 p.a. financial spill-over to the local snorkelling industry. Without the dolphins, Lovina might lose ~27% of the total direct expenditures (~11% to adjacent reef sites). Dolphin conservation, combined with local reef tourism, should be made priority to sustain local income in the future.
