Ever since Polynesian pioneers took to the ocean on wooden rafts, people have been hooked on riding waves. Today, surfing is one of the world's fastest-growing sports and one of the latest additions to the Olympic games.
Surfing is especially valuable to Australia. My new research shows surf-related expenditure contributes nearly A$3 billion to the Australian economy every year. And the mental health benefits to Australian surfers are in the order of $6 billion a year.
Yet many surf breaks are subject to coastal erosion, water pollution and other threats. The surfing event in Tahiti for this year's Olympics is a case in point: it involved drilling into delicate coral reef to build a new judging tower.
It's vital to recognize and measure the true benefits of surfing in dollar terms, so decision-makers realize it makes sense to invest in protecting Australia's surf breaks.
The economics of surfing
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