Thailand is among the top destinations in Asia for golf with some 700,000 golfers going there each year. There are over 300 stunning courses in the country with comparatively low green fees and high professional standards. The World Golf Travel Agents Association recently named Thailand as the “Best up and coming Destination for Golf Vacations”.
Chiang Mai, the mountainous city in northern Thailand famous for over 300 Buddhist temples, and home of authentic Lanna cuisine was voted “The Next Golf Destination of the Year Asia & Australasia 2017” by International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
In continuation to this golfing spree, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised the fifth Thailand Golf Travel Mart (TGTM) 2019 from August 6 to 9, 2019, in the kingdom’s northern capital as part of an ongoing strategy to further develop a very important source of high-spending, long-staying customer segment.
The event attracted a contingent of 116 top golf tour operators from 24 countries, the top five of whom were from China (22), Japan (17), India (9), South Korea (8) and Singapore (7). To broaden the exposure of Thailand’s golfing attractions, TAT carefully screened and invited 59 first-time buyers, especially from new markets; such as Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Portugal and Sweden. Handpicked nine Indian participants who strongly promote golf tourism in India were hosted by TAT to participate in TGTM to represent Indian outbound golf tourism. ChattanKunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT deputy governor for international marketing, Asia and South Pacific, said, “We are very pleased with the great response to this year’s golf travel mart. We have rotated it all around the country ever since its inception in order to maximise exposure of the tremendous diversity of our golf products, especially in the emerging provinces. This year, we are encouraging the invited golfers to try out Lamphun, 20 kilometres from Chiang Mai, a small province where investors have developed four breathtaking golf courses with gorgeous scenery.”
As with other specialist niche-market travel events, the TGTM was carefully monitored to ensure that TAT remains abreast of global trends and delivers the right product to the right buyers.
He also said, “With every passing year, Thailand faces increasing competition for the tourist dollar on the global stage. We are looking forward to networking with the buyers and listening to their feedback on how we can best maximise opportunities for both of us.”
Tourism Authority of Thailand in India has been doing its bit to promote golf in Thailand by introducing the Amazing Thailand Golf Pass for the last couple of years with a considerable success, offering matchless facilities for tourists. The Indian golf tourism circuit is very excited about the initiative, which offers superb individual and group benefits to players.
“At Amazing Thailand Golf Paradise with more than 300 international standard golf courses, professional caddies, warm hospitality, wellness, food and entertainment, we look forward to welcoming more Indian golfers to a be part of the Thai golf experience in the coming days,” concluded Isra Stapanaseth, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi.
