More and more tourists are flocking to Latin America in the hope of catching a glimpse of whales in their natural habitat.

A recent study presented at the International Whaling Commission's 60th annual meeting in Chile revealed that whale-related tourism attracts visitors to 91 towns in 18 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

According to the report, funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Global Ocean and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the whale-watching sector has grown by over 11 per cent on average between 1998 and 2006.

A popular destination for Argentina holidays is Patagonia, home to the Southern right whale, Emperor penguin and elephant seals. The Valdes Peninsula is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Figures show that whale tourism has increased in Argentina and Ecuador by up to 19 per cent, with more than 245,000 people taking part in whale-watching activities in Argentina every year.

Experts state that three quarters of all known species of cetaceans are in the region.

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