Share

Surf's Up

Thousands of years of shifting sands and rocks and tides go into the perfect surf break. It’s not something humans can control. 100-metre long barrelling right-handers are a product of luck and nature.

A study from Australian National University analysed the economic impact of surf breaks on local communities. Quite simply, do beaches with consistently high-quality waves increase the likelihood of a town’s prosperity?

Looking at 5,288 breaks across 146 countries, good surf is indeed beneficial to surrounding towns. A quality surf break adds 2.2% to local GDP on average. It may seem obvious on the surface but this proof is important as a development tool.

Surf-tourism was booming pre-Covid. The industry generated up to US$64.9b annually before travel restrictions. The researchers observed how important discovering new breaks in driving tourism and supporting the area, especially in developing countries. They go on to suggest government investment is centred around such beaches.

The discovery of surf breaks in Namibia, Mexico and Chile doubled the local community’s growth. In Portugal and Spain, two breaks disappeared after river dredging nearby disrupted the sea bed’s structure. Despite the dredging projects intending to increase economic growth, both areas saw a 2% dip in prosperity.

Surfers hold a lot of economic influence it seems. The growth in artificial wave centres reveals this.


Want more?

You know what to do

Insights, trends and company deep dives delivered straight to your inbox.


Stake logo
Over 7,000 5-star reviews
App Store logoGoogle Play logo

Subscribe to our free newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy.

Stakeshop Pty Ltd is registered as an overseas company in New Zealand (NZBN: 9429047452152), and is registered as a Financial Service Provider under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 (No. FSP774414). We hold a full licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority to provide a financial advice service under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. However, the content on this website has not been prepared to take into account any of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. To the extent you require further information about the relevant New Zealand legislation that may apply, or require specific advice, please contact your legal and/or financial adviser (as appropriate). The information on our website or our mobile application is not intended to be an inducement, offer or solicitation to anyone in any jurisdiction in which Stake is not regulated or able to market its services. At Stake, we’re focused on giving you a better investing experience but we don’t take into account your personal objectives, circumstances or financial needs. Any advice is of a general nature only. As investments carry risk, before making any investment decision, please consider if it’s right for you and seek appropriate taxation and legal advice. Please view our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Financial Advice Disclosure and Disclaimers before deciding to use or invest on Stake. By using the Stake website or service in any way, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions All financial products involve risk and you should ensure you understand the risks involved as certain financial products may not be suitable to everyone. Past performance of any product described on this website is not a reliable indication of future performance. Stake is a registered trademark under class 36 (New Zealand).

Copyright © 2024 Stake. All rights reserved.