The event that brings together the world's surfing elite on Supertubos Beach, which took place between March 6th and 16th, generated more than 20 million euros, while the big wave championship, held on Praia do Norte, on January 22nd, generated revenues exceeding three million euros, according to the study of the socio-economic impact of these two WSL events in Portugal, prepared by Diogo Melo, master's student at ISEG, Lisbon School of Economics & Management.

The 'lion's share' of revenues is related to the consumption of goods and services during stays to observe the events, with Peniche spectators spending 13.3 million euros and Nazaré fans 1.7 million (in a single day).

Regarding Peniche, accommodation generated 4.5 million euros, transport 2.5 million euros and food 2.8 million euros, while 3.5 million euros came from other sectors of activity, in a total of €13.3 million.

In Nazaré, transport generated €671,000, food €592,000, accommodation €567,000 and the other €601,000, for a total of €1.7 million.

As for the costs of organising the races, the Peniche stage reached 3.5 million euros and the Nazaré stage reached 800 thousand euros.

In both cases, the amount spent by the event sponsors was not taken into account, nor were the economic impacts related to the image as a result of media exposure (written media, radio, television and internet) taken into account.

When it comes to the origin of foreign visitors, Brazilians lead in both events, followed by Germans, Spanish, French and North Americans in Peniche, and by North Americans, Spanish, French and Poles in Nazaré.

England, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy and Canada are also among the countries of origin for a significant proportion of visitors.

The study, whose responsibility for collecting and processing data lies with the WSL, and which is based on 1,500 questionnaires, a sample error of 3% and a confidence level of 95%, shows that the majority of spectators are between 18 and 44 years and that 94% have academic studies.