MISSION
THE PROBLEM
As travelling surfers continue to expand their horizons to the farthest corners of the globe they pave the way for larger scale tourism industries to follow and too often create a legacy of soiled destinations, disheartened and distressed communities, and missed opportunities to replace poverty with sustainable livelihoods.
As travelling surfers continue to expand their horizons to the farthest corners of the globe they pave the way for larger scale tourism industries to follow and too often create a legacy of soiled destinations, disheartened and distressed communities, and missed opportunities to replace poverty with sustainable livelihoods.
THE VISION
Surfing’s impact on the world is entirely positive. By incorporating principles of sustainable tourism, surf tourism promotes healthy lifestyles and is a key driver for the environmental, social/cultural, and economic well being of destinations.
Surfing’s impact on the world is entirely positive. By incorporating principles of sustainable tourism, surf tourism promotes healthy lifestyles and is a key driver for the environmental, social/cultural, and economic well being of destinations.
OUR MISSION
The Center for Surf Research is a non-profit research and teaching center housed in SDSU’s Sustainable Tourism Program under the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The Center provides leadership in the struggle for sustainability in surf tourism by:
- Shaping responsible global citizens through life-changing experiential learning opportunities for students and the wider community;
- Creating and disseminating specialist knowledge to governments, the surf industry, tourism developers, destination communities, non-profits, and tourists;
- Inspiring and driving active stakeholder engagement with the social and economic development of destination communities, sustainable use of their resources, and conservation of their critical environments; and by
- Developing a sustainable surf tourism certification program.
THE CENTER WILL ACHIEVE ITS MISSION BY:
1 – INSPIRING CHANGE
- Developing life-changing, field-based courses in sustainable surf tourism management;
- Developing student internship and research opportunities in the tourism, surf, & non-profit sectors;
- Seeking partnerships with and scholarships from the surf industry & key individuals;
- Providing community lectures & learning/awareness events.
2 – CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE
- Enabling informed & effective decisions to made regarding the management of surf resources;
- Supporting the work of humanitarian and conservation agencies in surf tourism destinations;
- Analyzing and assessing various models of surf tourism management
- Exploring new ways to affect positive change through sustainable surf tourism;
- Developing best practice codes of conduct for all stakeholders in surf tourism;
- Establishing an in-house sustainable tourism accreditation system for surf tourism.
3 – ENGAGING & INFORMING ONLINE
- Providing access to existing surf tourism research and researchers;
- Showcasing examples of best practice sustainable surf tourism;
- Reviewing and links to surf tourism volunteer/philanthropy opportunities;
- Creating a forum for discussion for surf tourism researchers and operators.