About surfing in Indonesia and Southeast Asia: havens of sport

Surfing is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and it is not surprising that it has positioned itself as one of the most progressive tourism industries, also due to its contribution to health and its search for balance with nature and the environment. ambient. As we know it, surfing was not officially introduced to Southeast Asia until the 1930s, when it was first practiced on the iconic islands of Bali. Tradition indicates that in those days surfers from the United States who had learned the sport in Hawaii brought it to those Asian islands.

Although, if we do a historical review, this sport owes its existence to the region, in particular, to neighboring Polynesia, where travelers from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, landed tens of centuries ago (although there are also indications of the ancient existence of surfing in different areas of Africa and South America in countries like Peru).

Regarding Indonesia, the American photographer and surfer Robert Koke had great relevance in the development of surfing there, who opened the Kuta Beach Hotel in Bali in the 1930s, this being a significant step for the introduction and growth of this sport in the area that today groups the ASEAN countries.

Currently, in Indonesia surfing is considered a national industry, which receives hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world year after year to offer them a multiplicity of services. Robert Koke infused the Kuta Beach Hotel with the Waikiki surf haven character he knew best. How the web explains panama jack: “This imported Hawaiian surfing sensibility created an odd circle, because the Hawaiian Islands were originally founded by Southeast Asian peoples, and the sport was now traveling back to their ancestral lands.”

The Second World War represented a total standstill for the development of the sport, as did the Indonesian struggle for independence (happened in 1945). So it wasn’t until the 1960s, with the reintroduction of the sport from Australian surfers visiting Southeast Asia, that modern surfing managed to take root in the region.

Indonesia’s position in world surfing

The global surf tourism market has an expected share of US$9.5 billion in 2022, and is likely to exceed US$17 billion by 2032, advancing with a CAGR of 6% during the period 2022-2032

Within this framework, Indonesia is at the epicenter of surfing in Southeast Asia, beyond other important beaches such as Phuket, in Thailand, Bai Dai Beach in Vietnam, among many other internationally recognized areas.

The Covid-19 pandemic represented a great economic loss for tourism in Indonesia, which put its tourism, hotel, logistics, and other industries in crisis.

But since January 12 this year, when the Indonesian government reopened its doors to tourists, international visitor arrivals have increased remarkably: the number of foreign tourists visiting the country from January to June 2022 reached 743,210 people, an increase of 929.66% compared to the number of foreign tourists who visited the same period last year.

The weather and the waves: two of its secrets

One of the greatest qualities of Indonesia compared to other surf destinations is the climate. Average temperatures in most areas hover around 27C year-round, with water temperatures in the same range.

The dry season (May to September) has consistent east/southeast trade winds, while the wet season (October to April) sees more variable wind patterns (although it’s important to note that local weather can vary drastically from one island to another).

The waves are more consistent during the dry season, but it is possible to find waves at any time of the year. And it is known that the Indian Ocean has a famous season of constant surf from April to September.

Featured Indonesian Beaches

Indonesia is today a super popular (and often crowded) tourist destination for surfing, but there are still secret spots and wild destinations for those seeking solo adventures.

The global surf tourism market has an expected share of US$9.5 billion in 2022, and is likely to exceed US$17 billion by 2032

Among the best beaches in the country you can find those located in Bali (Kuta) or those that are on the Bukit peninsula, (Uluwatu and Padang Padang). Other highly recommended ones are in the Mentawais Islands, a chain of islands located off the western coast of Sumatra, which were “discovered” in the 1990s by the most curious surfers of the time, until they became a top-level spot for surfing. sport.

The islands of Lombok and Sumbawa, accessible from Kuta and Bukit as well, keep the treasures of a perfect swell. Such is the case that Lombok is home to Desert Point, known for offering one of the best and longest barrels in the world, while Sumbawa is home to reefs with impressive waves such as Lakey Peak, Supersuck, Periscopes and Scar Reef.

Java is another great island with a lot of surfing potential. Numerous camps have sprung up in Java, the most famous being the camps facing G Land. Many rugged areas have beaches with world-class wave configurations, available to those who set out to explore their jungles.

And for those looking for a different experience, away from the big conglomerations, there are the beaches of TWestern imor, which because of its location have more in common with Western Australia.

Although while Indonesia offers its share of exciting waves, beginners are advised to head to areas like Kuta, which offers many surf schools throughout the year.