1. Surfonomics 101
Dr. Chad Nelsen
Surfrider Foundation

3. What is Surfonomics?
• Demographics
• Behavior
• Economic Impact
• Economic Value
• Measuring change
• Sustainable tourism

5. California Beaches:
17.8 million visits
$15 billion/year
(Source: Pendleton et al. 2011, King, 1999)

8. (Source: CIC Research, July 2009)
Solana Beach, CA Beach Use

9. Surfonomic steps
• Study design
• Survey surfers (in person/internet)
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
– Spending
– Economic Value
• Reporting

10. Economic Impact vs Economic Value
• Economic Impact (Local Spending):
– Support local businesses
– Create jobs
– Provide salaries and wages
• Economic Value:
– Travel Cost Model
– Willingness to Pay (Consumer Surplus)

11. Demand Curve

12. Surfonomics Studies
• Trestles (Nelsen, 2007, 2012)
• Mundaka (Murphy (STW), 2007)
• South Stradbroke (Lazarow, 2008)
• Bastion Point (Lazarow, 2008)
• Mavericks (Coffman, 2009)
• Oregon Rec. Study (2010)
• Socioeconomic & Recreational Profile of
US Surfers (Nelsen, 2011)

14. Opt-in Data Results: Ocean Group

15. Coastal Visitation in Oregon: 2010
• 21 million estimated
coastal trips in Ore.
• $87 average trip
expenditure
• $2.4 billion in
expenditures in 2010
(estimated)

18. What’s Next
• More Site Studies
• Larger regional studies
• More studies / experts
• Academic partners / centers
• Clearing house for information
• Case Studies

19. Questions
Chad Nelsen
cnelsen@surfrider.org
t: chadenelsen
www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog