Pattaya's Golf Courses to be Promoted in US

Late last year, TAT organized a familiarization trip for 22 golf tour operators, all members of IAGTO, to survey golf courses in Pattaya.

Thailand is the only Asian country to be featured as a major sponsor of this event. With more than 100 buyers of golf tourism expected to participate, TAT plans to make full use of this opportunity to disseminate information about the kingdom’s amazing golf facilities, expand its range of contacts and boost networking with golf operators worldwide.

Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe and the Americas), said, “This year, we have set a strategy to attract quality tourists from the American region by stepping up our promotions to the golf tourism market. This is due to the fact that golfers generally have high disposable incomes. The TAT needs to continue to attract market segments which still have the desire and the means to travel. Golf tourism is one such segment.”

Set up in 1997 with their headquarters in London, IAGTO has a membership of 1,600 companies from 82 countries. Its membership has expanded in recent years to include golf resorts, golf courses, hotels, specialist ground handlers, car rentals and transportation companies, airlines, tourist boards, media, and a wide range of business partners who provide services for the golf tourism industry.

According to IAGTO, its membership includes 370 golf tour operators from 51 countries who only sell golfing holidays. Of these, 144 companies sell golf tours to Thailand.

Mrs. Juthaporn said, “The IAGTO has stressed that Thailand has great potential to expand its profile among the rest of the golfing operators who are not yet selling Thailand. We will work with IAGTO more intensively in the future to find ways to cooperate in promoting the golf market.”

In addition to cooperation with IAGTO, TAT also participated in the PGA Merchandise Show in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in January.  Nearly 42,000 PGA professionals and industry executives from 88 countries attended.