Gentle Atlantic breezes, year-round sunshine and miles of sandy coastline make Ceará the perfect place to kitesurf. This combination has also placed the state on the international map and as a result, Ceará ranks among the world’s favourite kitesurf destinations. Furthermore, experts believe its potential is only just beginning.
International kitesurf hot spot
Ceará is often quoted as an example of adventure tourism promotion because the state has made the most of its natural resources. Over the last few years, the Ceará tourism board has focused on marketing major sporting events, awith particular emphasis on kite and windsurfing.
One example is the XP Sertoes Kitesurf, a long-distance race along the entire Ceará coastline. The third edition in September 2023 of the race, known as the Water Rally, covered 460km of the coastline. It brought together competitors from all around the world, including Argentina, the UK, France and Turkey.
Ceará reaps the rewards
This promotion of the state as an international kitesurf destination is already bearing its fruits, with three major benefits:
Real estate development
“In the last ten years, there’s been considerable property development in coastal areas popular with kitesurfers,” said Yrwana Albuquerque, the Secretary of Tourism in Ceará, quoted in Focus.JOR.
She also pointed out that the influx of kitesurfers has improved amenities for tourists generally. “The quality of facilities and services is much better,” she said.
More tourists
As well as improved amenities and real estate development, being a kitesurf hotspot also boosts visitor figures. According to the latest official figures (2022), over 13% of Brazilian and international tourists in Ceará claimed they had chosen the state to practise some kind of sport.
More revenue
Kitesurf tourists also have a higher average spend than other visitors. According to the Ceará Tourist Board, they spend a medium of R$3,500 during their stay.
Albuquerque highlighted the significance of this for the state economy. “It also shows that investment made in kitesurf tourism are profitable,” she said. In addition, research shows that many kitesurfers stay in Ceará and invest in the state.
(Source: Focus.JOR)
