Rhodes is one location where sport has brought huge increases in visitor numbers. In 2008 over 20 thousand people watched the annual windsurfing competition on Ialisos beach.

Windsurfing on Rhodes is most popular in the large bay at Ixia, where some have described the location as a surfers paradise. Kite surfing is now becoming more prevalent with surfers taking advantage of the Meltemi winds which usually blow from north to south during the summer months. Ialisos Beach is close to Ixia in the north of the island and is planning to host another international windsurfing event in June this year.

As well as windsurfing, Rhodes is also gaining a growing reputation as an interesting location for mountain biking.