Peter Walton and Mr . Krit Thanavanich , Chiang Mai Vice Governor at AGTC 2016 , Chiang Mai © Peter Ellegard
IAGTO is still involved in as a major sponsor . With this year ’ s IGTM happening in Palma , Mallorca , in November what are their significance ?
PW : As the global trade association of the golf tourism industry we have taken great care and immense pride over the past 16 years to ensure that our annual Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for golf destinations and golf resorts , reflecting accurately the opinions of golf tour operators , golf travel writers and , ultimately , the golf traveller . With only nine Awards presented each year , the impact on the winners is tangible and we expect the 17th edition this November in Palma to be no different !
DG : Sustainability is now a key element of the IAGTO Awards with the recent introduction of the IAGTO Sustainability Awards . Why were they added ?
PW : As a zoology graduate and one-time professional ecologist , I have a long-standing interest in sustainability . Four years ago , IAGTO entered into a partnership with the Golf Environment Organization ( GEO ) to help our member golf courses achieve even greater sustainability year on year . We launched the IAGTO Sustainability Awards three years ago to reward some of the incredible achievements of golf courses in this field , to highlight examples of best practice and to inspire change .
We have demonstrated how our Awards can act as a catalyst for best practice as well as showcasing existing excellence . More than 120 IAGTO golf courses have now enrolled with GEO ’ s On Course Sustainability programme and are pursuing full GEO Certification .
DG : Golf has often had a bad rap over its environmental credentials . Is that still justified or is it cleaning up its act ?
PW : We began looking at how entire destinations plan the development of golf courses in 2005 , and by that time sustainability was firmly on everyone ’ s agenda . I cannot imagine a situation now where the requirements for a new golf development do not include a positive sustainability outcome .
From our own perspective , we place ecological preservation , water conservation , community engagement and the sustainable use of resources at the heart of the integrated golf tourism development and promotional strategies that we have been invited to develop in 33 countries and regions worldwide .
We are now in the process of encouraging entire golf destinations to become GEO Certified and to take sustainability to another level .
Volume 3 • Issue 35 29