The Irish president, whilst on holiday in Northern Spain, has signalled out  the importance of its surf tourism
Somo (Cantabria. Northern Spain), 25.09.2012
The president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, recently visited the Somo Surf Centre. Ireland’s senior politician, who has been participating for the past few weeks in Spanish courses given at the International University of Menendez Pelayo (UIMP), has chosen to spend his summer holidays in Ribamontan al Mar.
President Higgins, whilst staying in one of the Hotels in the same municipality, visited the central  piece in Ribamontans competitive tourism plan focused on and around the sport of surfing. Accompanied by the councils representatives, headed by the local Mayor, Francisco Asón, the Irish President was shown all relevant details surrounding this dynamic local project that has ,amongst other things, produced the first ever surf related nature reserve in Europe and the first edifice of its kind dedicated to and...

Cantabria is a place for surfers. Her 283 Kilometres of coastline with over 70 beaches makes Cantabria a unique Spanish surfing paradise. Her privileged geographical location , allowing for ridable waves for almost 300 days
a year, and her deep surfing roots combined with her pioneering character, have placed
Cantabria in an enviable position as a national and international reference within the world
wide surfing community.

Cantabria is home to great surfing champions of the likes of Pablo Gutierrez or Pablo Solar
amongst others, all of whom were groomed on these waves. The Cantarias surfing map
is littered with great and well known surf spots with a wide range of waves adequate for
surfers of all levels. Renowned surf spots such as Somo, Loredo, Langre, Liencres, Los
Locos, Noja or The Island of Santa Marina are commonly known to surfers throughout
Europe. These spots are surrounded by an ample net of dedicated specialised services +INFO

During the months of July and August 2011 a survey was created  to analyse  the demand of tourists who visited the villages of Loredo and Somo, (Cantabria, Spain).

The survey was  part of a project to determine the precise profile of  tourists who visit Loredo- Somo.  The resulting figures demonstrated  both the importance of tourism  and the viability of the surf project in this area.

The University of Cantabria , in the first Spanish survey targeting surfers, evaluated the destiny of 600 tourists entering Ribamontán al Mar.

The results proved that even though the specific target market of surfers is still not comparable to the general market, it is a market which is firmly growing throughout  Northern Spain. Surfing is a rapid growing spot, generating an ever increasing number of bookings in hotels, camp sites, hostels,etc. Surfing has also generated a multitude of surf related commercial activities such as, surf schools, surf shops, board repair...