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“Golf Tourism in Thailand and Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2015” TAT has kicked off Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2015 at Hua Hin

48. food&health . October 2015

Hua Hin, 7 August, 2015 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has organised the Thailand Golf Travel Mart 2015 between 4-6 August, 2015, at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel. The Mart is designed to attract more golfers to Thailand and underscore the Kingdom’s rapidly growing popularity as a world-class

golfing destination.

TAT will now be promoting the kingdom as a “Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess.”

Because it fits in perfectly with that objective, golfing has been identified as one of the priority niche markets.

It is also in line with the TAT’s policy to promote travel and tourism to the provinces and disseminate tourism revenue nationwide.

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For this event, TAT has invited 153 specialist golf-holiday buyers from 27 TAT overseas offices to meet with 95 sellers at the Mart including golf courses and service providers like golf schools, equipment retailers, Thai travel agents and tour operators, hotels, spa operators and other related businesses. 43 media are also invited to explore the event.

The Mart is an excellent opportunity for buyers and media to familiarise themselves with Thailand’s worldclass golf courses, network with sellers and check out support facilities.

Thailand boasts more than 200

world-class golf courses, many of which are immaculately designed by internationally famous architects.

Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Acting Governor and Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas) said, “Golfers can enjoy their game and have a holiday at the same time. Challenging and exciting courses staffed by well-trained and courteous Thai caddies are the reasons why Thailand is such a popular choice of golf enthusiasts, especially from Japan, Korea, Europe and increasingly, India and China.

“We also have attractive green fees that offer great value for money, excellent clubhouse facilities serving delicious Thai cuisine, as well as good challenging holes in an exotic tropical environment.

Courses can be played on all year round. Furthermore, we have facilities for post-game relaxation; such as, health spas and traditional massage.”

Many Thai golf courses and destinations are winning global awards. Pattaya and Hua Hin were voted as the Golf Destination of the Year for Asia and Australia by the IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

In 2013, approximately 700,000 visitors came to Thailand either specifically to play golf or did so as part of a wider package of leisure activities generating an estimated 10 billion Baht in revenue.

Visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 12.4 million between January-May 2015, up 25% over the same period of 2014. They generated 592.9 billion Baht in tourism income, up 25.13%. In 2015, TAT is projecting 28.8 million international visitors, generating around 1.4 trillion Baht in tourism revenue.

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