Travel News
Golf tourism in New Zealand is thriving with golf visitors up a record 23 % alongside an 18 % increase in spend by these visitors for the year ending 1 . Tourism new _ zealand April 2016 . The growth rate is among one of the highest being experienced worldwide . This week , Golf Tourism New Zealand ’ s third golf tourism progress report was released to industry providing a summary of activity taken over the past year as part of the International Golf Tourism Strategy . An impressive $ 329 million is being pumped into the economy each year from international golf tourism .
With three months still to go to the 6th annual Asia Golf Tourism Convention ( AGTC ), the event this registrations are growing year upon year from international golf tour operators . Established in 2012 by IAGTO as an annual networking event for its Asia Pacific members , ACTC has now become pivotal for IAGTO golf tour operators across the globe looking to extend their product and expand sales to golf destinations throughout the region . Approximately 70 % of the attending golf tour operators or ‘ buyers ’ will be from Asia Pacific markets .
Branded “ AGTC on the Beach ”, the 2017 Convention heads to the award-winning golf and beach destination of Danang , in central Vietnam , next May .
Troon ® Golf and its Abu Dhabi properties ; Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Ed Edwards as Group General Manager . Edwards assumes the role with immediate effect , leading Troon ’ s team of service and hospitality professionals on behalf of the ownership group , Tourism Development & Investment Company ( TDIC ).
An ex-professional golfer , Ed Edwards has a wealth of international experience in managing and establishing high end golf resorts throughout the world including in the United Arab Emirates , Portugal , Ireland , Egypt , Oman , Saudi Arabia , the United States and Qatar .
Two weeks ago IAGTO successfully hosted its first Mexico Golf Tourism Destination Convention at Moon Palace Golf Resort and Spa , Cancun Riviera Maya . The 3 day event featured 40 buyer delegates from 18 different countries along with 32 suppliers from across Mexico coming together for over 800 pre-scheduled meetings . Following the success of this inaugural event , IAGTO are delighted to announce that the 2017 Mexico Golf Tourism Convention will take place in Los Cabos – dates to be confirmed .
The epitome of food , wine and golf in the Rioja region is easily accessible from Bilbao ( 1h30 drive ) or Pamplona ( 1h ) and only 3h30 from Madrid - a new golf destination in Spain for IAGTO operators to sell .
15 IAGTO operators and IGTWA golf travel writers are today playing the second of the three courses of the Logroño region , famous for its Rioja wines .
The Golf courses of Logroño , Golf Sojuela and Golf Rioja Alta are all within easy access of eachother .
The state of the economy in Scandinavia has been steadily improving for the last couple of years and growth is predicted to continue in 2016 onwards . Scandinavia leads the European travel markets in online travel booking patterns with 62 % of leisure and business travel services going through the online channels in 2015 . Best-selling destinations for the summer holidays are Spain , Greece and Turkey while winter sun seekers travel further with Thailand , Canaries islands and Dubai proving the most popular long-haul holiday destinations . The golfing population in Scandinavia amounts to just under 733,000 registered club members ( Sweden 477.000 , Denmark 151.000 , Norway 106.000 ).
Volume 3 • Issue 37 15