Re-defining localism: an ethnography of human territoriality in the surf

Abstract

Surf tourism is a growing segment of the tourism industry that is affecting many developing countries as surfers travel to find perfect, uncrowded waves. With the influx of tourists, local surfers often feel the need to defend the waves they surf every day. This phenomenon is known as localism, which is a form of human territoriality. This ethnographic study analyses localism using a territoriality framework in one surf tourism destination on the coast of Nicaragua. It is based on two months of field work, including observations and interviews, with local surfers, resident foreigners and tourists in and around the Popoyo Reef surf break. The findings show that localism is far more complex than previously conceived by many surfers. Not all local surfers felt the same about the space and while they did exhibit ownership, defined boundaries and regulated behaviour in the surf, they were still willing to share the space with others.