24 June 2009

Thailand tees off with new golf promotion

BANGKOK - The golf establishment in Thailand has launched ââ¬ËœGolf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experienceââ¬â¢, a cooperative itinerary that matches the countryââ¬â¢s top courses with leading hotels.

Mark Siegel, president of Bangkok-based tour operator, Golfasian, said, ââ¬ÅâœI think golfers in North America have an inkling that golf is played in Thailand; Europeans have slightly more of an inkling, but I donââ¬â¢t think golfers on either continent fully realise that this is a country with more than 250 courses, many of them as good as youââ¬â¢ll find anywhere in the world.ââ¬~

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with eight golf properties, Golfasian and six of the countryââ¬â¢s premier resort hotels to produce ââ¬ËœGolf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experienceââ¬â¢.

According to TAT, some 3.2 million visitors arrived in Thailand the first quarter of 2009 ââ¬' a 19 percent decrease from the same period in 2008.

ââ¬ÅâœI live here and the reality is, the political issues in Thailand havenââ¬â¢t had any effect on the day-to-day lives of citizens or tourists ââ¬' but the economic slowdown has surely affected tourists: prices have dropped across the board,ââ¬~ Siegel said.

ââ¬~Launching ââ¬ËœGolf in a Kingdomââ¬â¢ now has allowed us to offer value we could not have offered in 2008.ââ¬~

Golf courses included in the tour are:

Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin; Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa
Resort; Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to Bangkok; Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club; Santiburi Samui Country Club, site of the newest Asian Tour event, the Queenââ¬â¢s Cup; Siam Country Club and Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woodsââ¬â¢ 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory.

The resorts taking part in the promotion are: Anantara Phuket, Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa; Anantara Golden Triangle; Anantara Hua Hin; Anantara Koh Samui and Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa.

ââ¬ÅâœOf all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand provides the greatest value,ââ¬~ said Santi Chudintra, director of TAT Los Angeles.

For more information visit www.golfinakingdom.com

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