GLOBAL SURFING TOURISM MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

The seasonal nature of surfing conditions can pose challenges for the continuous growth of global surfing tourism market. Surfing requires certain wave conditions such as minimum wave height, shape of waves etc. which are strongly dependent on weather, tide levels and seasonal swell patterns. Most popular surfing destinations experience ideal wave conditions only during certain months in a year. For example, Brazil witnesses great surfing conditions from May to October while Indonesia is best from April to September. This restricts the number of months in a year when tourists can actually experience quality surfing.  With waves only accessible during limited months, tourism infrastructure like accommodation facilities, transports, eateries, etc. in coastal towns face underutilization for rest of the year affecting their financial viability and longevity. This lack of year-round consistency in surf tourism experience makes long term infrastructure planning and development difficult for destinations. Even tourists find it hard to plan yearly surfing holidays as seasons differ for each location. Countries like Costa Rica, Mexico which have surf spots on both Pacific as well as Atlantic/Caribbean coasts have a natural advantage of providing surf all year by utilizing different breaks according to the season.

Opportunities: Emergence of low-cost destinations

The emergence of low-cost destinations has the potential to provide great opportunities for growth in the global surfing tourism market. Surfing destinations that offer affordable accommodations, meals and other amenities allow more budget-conscious travelers to experience surf vacations. By increasing accessibility, these low-cost locations can help bring more first-time and occasional surf tourists into the market. Destinations such as Indonesia, El Salvador and Nicaragua have seen their surf tourism industries thrive in recent years partly due to their relatively low prices compared to traditional hubs like Hawaii and Australia. According to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Indonesia welcomed over 16 million international visitors in 2021, up 57% from 2020 levels as the country eased COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Its affordable surf towns like Canggu on Bali have experienced a surge in foreign surfing guests. Similarly, El Salvador has promoted itself as Central America's premier surfing paradise, with weekend surf packages including flights, lodging, and meals available for under USD 500.