With a panoramic view from my villa porch, I watch the ebb and flow of the Andaman Sea as it collides with the west coast of Phuket. The day is dark, windy, and rainy, typical of an island in the throes of the monsoon season. Amid the downpour, I contemplate whether it’s worthwhile to venture down the coast to Kamala Beach, the intended venue for the latest stage of the Amazing Phuket Plus Surf Festival.
Touted as the largest surfing event on the island, the festival, sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, comprises five separate three-day competitions across June and July. With venues in Khao Lak, Kata, Kamala, Patong, and Surin, the festival features both longboard and shortboard competitions for male and female contestants.
As my taxi circumnavigates the northern headland of Kamala, revealing the white sandy beach on the right, I note the sparse surfers bobbing in the sea. Their wavering form betrays their amateur status. My walk along the beach ends at Kamala Water Sport, a surf rental company, where I am informed of the cancellation of the festival’s opening day due to the inclement weather.
Surf instructor Max Bunyarit, a 20-year surfing veteran, informs me about the growing popularity of the sport in Phuket. In his perspective, more tourists are beginning to see Phuket as a potential surfing destination, a trend he believes will continue to fuel the growth of surfing in Phuket.
The global surf tourism industry is estimated to be worth up to US$62 billion per year, a figure that only grew during the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw increased interest in outdoor activities like surfing. In certain destinations, surfing is the primary attraction for tourists. According to a 2021 study by the International Association for Surfing Research, approximately 16 per cent of tourists visit Costa Rica specifically to surf.
Phuket, long known for its luxury resorts, bustling markets, vibrant nightlife, and serene beaches, is relatively new to the surfing scene. The sight of tourists carrying surfboards or braving the waves remains an uncommon one. However, the introduction of the new festival aims to elevate Phuket’s status as a global surf tourism destination.
Despite the smaller waves compared to Bali, Phuket offers a unique appeal for beginner surfers. The island’s waves are safe yet rideable, making it an ideal destination for novice surfers. Phuket’s prime surfing season runs from May to September, with top surfing spots scattered along the western shore of the island.
In recent years, Phuket has seen a surge in foreign surf tourism, attracting riders from as far as China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines. The increasing number of surf shops and surf workshops offer surfboard rentals and surfing lessons, making it easier for tourists to try out or improve their surfing skills. With the warm water, easy access to surf, and a growing surf community, Phuket is well on its way to becoming a top destination for surf tourism.
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