A historical perspective on the life cycle of a tourist activity: dolphin watching in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha archipelago

Dolphin watching tourism in Brazil's Fernando de Noronha archipelago has stagnated alongside the overall development of the destination. This study reveals that while boat-based dolphin watching is more popular due to its capacity to accommodate three times more tourists than land-based options, the latter offers greater educational value and lower environmental impact, presenting potential for growth. The research applies the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) framework to analyze the historical development of this activity, identifying key stages that shaped its trajectory. Findings indicate that both dolphin watching and the archipelago's tourism are currently in a stagnation phase, with land-based watching emerging as a viable alternative for future growth.

Tischer, M. C., Schiavetti, A., Silva, F. J. d. L., & Silva-Jr, J. M. d. (2018). A historical perspective on the life cycle of a tourist activity: dolphin watching in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha archipelago. Ethnobiology and Conservation, 7. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2018-06-7.9-1-25