The developing tourism in Sri Lanka and the increase in surf tourists visiting the destination has led to some encounters and challenges within the surf industry. Due to the surf spots getting more and more crowded with surfers, notions of localism arise and, thus, inevitable conflicts about who has the right to surf the waves occur.
In this thesis, the surf scene in Sri Lanka has been investigated and examined through a case study based on an ethnographic field work within the surf milieu on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and a thorough investigation of a foreign owned surf camp, where the researcher worked as a Camp Manager. The findings of the field work have been supported by interviews with managers and owners of other surf camps in the area, an interview with a local surfer, an online survey for foreign surf instructors working in the area and an e-mail correspondence about intimidation and violence in the surf scene. Subsequently, the findings of the research have been analyzed and discussed on the basis of a theoretical framework on concepts of localism, identity and difference. A post-structural methodological framework has been applied with the aim of gaining knowledge to the already existing material on the topic through a grounded theory approach.
The analysis of the empirical material led to general patterns about challenges with local employees at the involved surf camps. Through a grounded theory approach it was established that localism in Sri Lanka distinguishes from other destinations as presented in the theory review in the sense that it to a great extent regards ownership of job opportunities in relation to the rising surf tourism industry rather than ownership of a certain surf spot and the waves.
Furthermore, it was evident that local surfers are not to be identified as the same as they all have different narratives that have shaped their self-identities. As it has been demonstrated throughout the thesis, some local employees at surf camps have proven to be very efficient and valuable workers in comparison to local employees at other surf camps, leaving food for thought as to how power relations have been applied and handled in the various circumstances.
Finally, it was found that difference is important in the perception of the self and others in the sense that encounters might be perceived differently through the eyes of locals than through the eyes of a foreign owner of a surf camp. Furthermore, power relations and appreciation and influence of these proved to be essential in the various conflicts that has emerged from the increase in surf tourists within the surf industry in Sri Lanka, as well as in possible settlements to the conflicts.