Surf Tourism News – November 2024

Get ready to ride the wave of excitement, because Sri Lanka is set to become one of the world’s fastest-growing surf travel destinations in 2025!

According to the 2024 WTM Global Travel Report, published in partnership with Tourism Economics, tourism spending in Sri Lanka is forecasted to increase by a whopping 40 percent.

This positions Sri Lanka as Asia’s leading destination for tourism spending growth next year, with great surfing prospects.

Imagine catching the perfect wave on Sri Lanka’s pristine beaches, knowing that you’re surfing in a country that’s making waves in the global tourism scene.

The slower travel recovery of China has impacted nearby countries like Thailand and Vietnam, but Sri Lanka is riding high on the crest of this tourism boom.

While recovery to 2019 levels is still in progress, overall tourism spending growth is expected in over 20 territories in 2025 compared to 2024.

By 2030, Sri Lanka’s inbound tourism spending is projected to grow by an incredible 109 percent.

This means that the island nation will remain the second fastest-growing tourism destination in Asia, just behind Thailand, which is expected to see a 147 percent increase.

Globally, the number of international overnight arrivals per year is projected to grow from 1.5 billion this year to exceed two billion before the end of the decade. That’s a lot of surfboards hitting the waves!

Developed markets will continue to dominate as the largest sources of outbound travel, but emerging markets are gaining importance. China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, India, Russia, Canada, South Korea, and Australia have been identified as the top outbound growth markets for the 2019-2030 period. This means more surfers from around the world will be flocking to Sri Lanka’s shores.

Inevitably this will bring more surfing resources and great choices for overseas surfers.

According to a recent survey by Tourism Economics, over 80 percent of tourism experts believe price sensitivity will increasingly influence travel spending in 2025, making Sri Lanka a great choice for those people that love sufing.

Tourists continue to prioritise the “travel vs value” equation, enhancing a trend toward value-seeking. This puts Sri Lanka at the top of the list as far as surfing experiences and great holiday holiday atmosphere on the beaches down south and on the east coast. There is always a surf season on one of Sri Lanka’s coasts!

The latest Tourism Economics Travel Trends Survey revealed that three-quarters of respondents are still prioritising travel but are opting for more cost-effective options at great tropical locations.

Travelers are also increasingly drawn to new destinations and experiences. The average length of stay for international travel remains elevated, with some shorter trips being sacrificed in favour of longer stays to explore destinations more fully as part of the slow travel trend.

The overwhelming majority of respondents expressed a growing interest in meeting locals or learning about local culture. This is great news for Sri Lanka, where the rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality are as inviting as the perfect surf conditions. Lankans rate as top end friendly people.

The WTM Global Travel Report provides a comprehensive tourism outlook, covering all major bilateral tourism flows in terms of visits, nights, and spending, along with unique industry insights. The report’s projections are based on an extensive data bank that includes more than 185 countries worldwide as destinations and origin markets.