Surfing Tourism Market Report 2026

The surfing tourism market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $10.15 billion in 2025 to $10.79 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of adventure tourism demand, increasing popularity of coastal travel, expansion of surf culture globally, rising availability of affordable travel options, growth of independent travel trends.

The surfing tourism market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.7 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing focus on sustainable tourism practices, rising demand for personalized surf travel experiences, expansion of international surf tourism destinations, growing investment in eco-friendly accommodations, increasing use of digital travel platforms. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for eco-conscious surf destinations, rising popularity of surf camps and retreats, expansion of experiential travel packages, growing use of digital booking platforms, enhanced focus on community-based surf tourism.

The increasing interest in outdoor recreation and adventure tourism is expected to drive the growth of the surfing tourism market in the future. Outdoor recreation encompasses activities conducted in natural or outdoor settings for enjoyment, relaxation, and fitness, while adventure tourism involves traveling to engage in physically demanding activities that often carry some risk. The rise in interest in these areas is fueled by health and wellness trends, the influence of social media, a desire to disconnect from technology, and greater accessibility. Surfing tourism contributes to outdoor recreation by highlighting coastal destinations and promoting active lifestyles. It stimulates investments in local infrastructure and increases demand for related activities and services. For example, in July 2024, the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care reported that about 90% of adults participated in sports at least once a year. Annually, approximately 13.5 million adults and 3.6 million children engage in sports, with over 3 million Australians volunteering in sports and active recreation each year. Thus, the growing interest in outdoor recreation and adventure tourism is fueling the expansion of the surfing tourism market.

Key players in the surfing tourism market are focusing on developing surfing schools, such as purpose-built surf training centres, to enhance instructional quality, increase capacity for beginners and advanced learners, and boost the appeal of major surfing destinations. Purpose-built surf training centres are dedicated facilities that combine certified coaching programs, structured lesson pathways, and on-site infrastructure such as equipment storage and safety support, providing a comprehensive learning environment for surfers of all skill levels. For example, in June 2023, Fáilte Ireland (National Tourism Development Authority), an Ireland-based national tourism development agency, launched the National Surf Centre in Strandhill, County Sligo. Designed to strengthen visitor engagement, the centre hosts multiple surf schools and the County Sligo Surf Club, provides certified coaching from beginner to advanced levels, and offers purpose-designed lesson infrastructure as part of a €3 million investment aimed at supporting long-term tourism growth along the Wild Atlantic Way.

In May 2023, Goodsurf, a US-based developer and builder of deep-water surf pools, acquired Citywave North America for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition includes all intangible assets, rights, and responsibilities of Citywave across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and aims to advance the mission of making surfing more accessible throughout North America. Citywave North America is a US-based company specializing in surfing services.

Major companies operating in the surfing tourism market are LineUpEXplorers GmbH, The Perfect Wave Travel, Channel Islands Surfboards Inc., Body Glove International LLC, World Surfaris Pty Ltd, Firewire Surfboards LLC, Costa Rica Surf Travel Company, Wavehunters Surf Travel Pty Ltd, Waterways Surf Adventures, Nomad Surfers, Atoll Travel, The Ocean Spell Surf Travel, True Blue Travel, BruSurf Inc., Great Ocean Road Surf Tours, INTRO Travel Pty Ltd, Mojosurf Pty Ltd, Go Overseas Inc., Driftwood Mentawai Surf Travel, Surf and Sun.

North America was the largest region in the surfing tourism market in 2025. The regions covered in the surfing tourism market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the surfing tourism market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The surfing tourism market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as surf lessons and coaching, surfboard rentals, and guided surf tours. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The surfing tourism market also includes sales of surfboards, wetsuits, surf accessories, surf lessons, surf camps, and surf apparel. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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