Surf tourism in a post-pandemic world

Surf tourism research has increased dramatically over the past 10 years. While it has been promoted as a more sustainable form of tourism, multiple studies have highlighted the negative effects of surf tourism on local environments and communities, and the problematic, neocolonial nature of the industry. Given these issues, multiple frameworks have emerged for more sustainable and regenerative forms of surf tourism.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, surf tourism destinations and surf tourists have faced a variety of challenges and changes. As the world emerges from the pandemic and learns to live with COVID-19 and other health, economic, social, and environmental challenges, we want to understand the state of surf tourism. Are there greater possibilities for different forms of surf tourism or will destinations return to pro-growth models? Will surf tourists' behavior change or will they continue to travel long distances seeking smaller crowds and bigger waves?

This Research Topic seeks original research and theoretical papers addressing surf tourism during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Papers may include the following topics:
- Surf break governance
- Overtourism and crowding
- Localism
- Surfer identities (i.e., gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity)
- Conflict within surf tourism destinations
- Surf tourists' behavior
- Inequalities within surf tourism destinations
- Neocolonialism/decolonization
- Digital nomadism
- Surf tourism development frameworks
- Surf events
- Public health issues for surf tourists and surf tourism destinations

Keywords: inclusive growth, diverse economies, sustainable surf tourism, regenerative tourism, blue space, surf break governance, critical surf studies, neocolonialism, digital nomadism, surf tourist behavior, surf travel, post-pandemic, decolonization

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.