Surf Season Ends, What’s Next for Khao Lak?

Over the past few years, Khao Lak has seen a steady influx of seasonal surfers, with Pakarang Beach and Memories Beach Bar being the epicenter of activity. This year with a domestic driven tourism market, Thai bloggers and social media created an explosion online that has pushed up business. Two of the key Facebook sites are Surfer’s Holiday and Better Surf Thailand.

Surf season runs pretty much from after Songkran through November. Given the influx of Bangkokians and also ‘drive in’ business from Southern Thailand, surfing lessons have been in high demand. The trend captured so much traction that some teachers moved from Phuket to Khao Lak to take up the demand.

Another key surf business in the area is Sunova Surfboards that was founded by Bert Burger and produces high-quality export-grade boards that can also be purchased locally in Khao Lak.

Taking a recent road trip to the area found C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia Communications talking to Khun Tah Taweeroj Eawpanich of Surfer’s Holiday about how the sport has blossomed in recent years.

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Moving into a different season, Khao Lak hotels are reporting continued demand from the domestic market for Thais wanting to visit the nearby Similan and Surin Islands. They are receiving wide attention and becoming a filler for the area’s lack of foreign travelers.

Watersports and sports tourism are gaining popularity also so that off-surf season activities in Phang Nga include SUP (standup paddleboarding) and skimboarding. There are an increasing number of local skimboard clubs in Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, and Pattaya who visit other club locations.

With Thailand likely to open fully to international travelers in the latter part of next year, hotels and tourism businesses need to focus on the domestic Instagram market and expect one more peak surf season come May.

To learn more about Khao Lak and Phang Nga’s hotel and tourism market, read and download C9 Hotelworks recent update:

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