Applications for the scheme opened on April 4 and seven days later, already eight destinations have applied to be recognised as an official Whale Heritage Site.

Following the launch of the scheme in January, the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is already nearing the original goal of having 10 destinations signed up by 2017.

Destinations applying for the scheme include North Vancouver Island, the Dominican Republic and Hervey Bay in Australia.

Upon application, each destination has had to answer a number of questions concerning their credentials for the scheme which the WCA will check before awarding accreditation.

Any problems will be highlighted with the sites then able to work independently or with the WCA to further drive improvement.

Once the improvements have been completed, a report will be filed to the independent judging committee who will undertake a final on-site inspection.

Only then will the area achieve full Whale Heritage Site Accreditation.

Interim general manager for Visit Fraser Coast Leigh Bennett said: “Applying for Whale Heritage Site status is a matter of common sense for the local community and tourism industry of Hervey Bay Queensland where the whale watching industry forms an integral part of our social fabric.”

World Cetacean Alliance secretariat Dylan Walker added: “Destinations with the best practices deserve to be acknowledged and, for the first time, tourists seeking responsible whale watching experiences will be able to identify the best in the world.”

The most recent study in 2008 has shown that $2 billion was generated by the 13 million people who went whale watching across 119 countries.