Golf: visitors are fore it
Despite recent economic uncertainty, golf continues to hit long drives as it grows, says Peter Walton, chief executive of the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators.
He told a group in Thailand that golf tourism has recovered more quickly than other tourism sectors since the 2008 “Global Financial Crisis.”
He said international golf tourism was expected to exceed 50 million travellers in 2011, and perhaps reach 55 million, equivalent to the level in 2007 before the 2008 crisis.
"Golf tourism bounces back more quickly than other sectors," he said. "In established markets, one in three golfers plan to travel in the next 12 months. That is a lot more than in other sectors, like skiing.”
He also said that golfers spend 120 percent more per person per day when staying in a resort than other travellers.
Golfers are responsible for 27 percent of US travel expenditures, he said.
"While we don't have figures for other countries, this shows how important golf tourism is in the current international tourism climate," he said.
The US and Spain are among the most popular golf destinations.
By David Wilkening
David
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