Asian golf tourism 'needs overhaul'

SINGAPORE - Drawn by the prospect of 100 leading corporate buyers from across China and the region at this year’s CTW China, major Chinese aviation player China Eastern Airline has announced its partnership with the show as its new airline sponsor.

Explained Mr.Song Jun Shi, Assistant General Manager of Sales Management Department, Marketing and Sales Committee on the decision behind participating at CTW China 2015, “The CTW China event attracts corporate buyers with a focus on business travel. With flight travel being a significant component of travel decisions for these buyers, I’m confident that our presence at the event will be a great opportunity to meet existing and new clients, and discuss how CEA can best support their business travel.”

Headquartered in Shanghai, CEA, an official member of SkyTeam, has a flight network from Shanghai to 1,000 cities in 187 countries. Its list of accolades includes receiving the ‘Golden Ting Award’ by China Capital Market Annual Conference 2012, being recognized as one of the 50 most valuable Chinese brands by WPP, and ranking among the top ten of FORTUNE China CSR Ranking 2013.

“As a CTW China sponsor, CEA expects to increase our airline’s awareness amongst Chinese and multi-national corporate clients, and be seen as a true global player,” Mr.Song Jun Shi, continued.

According to Song, CEA strives to be a super-excellent aviation service integrator to win staff devotion, customers’ loyalty and shareholders’ satisfaction and public trust. Coupled with the concept of ‘world-class hospitality with eastern charm’, CEA sets out to create splendid travel experiences for global customers with accurate, delicate and precise service quality.

During the upcoming CTW China, delegates can discuss with CEA representatives about solutions that allow them to efficiently save money on business travel. In addition, they can look forward to exciting new products that will be showcased at the booth, including:
• Brand new Boeing 777 on the Shanghai-New York route, and Airbus 33H and 33E for European routes including London, Frankfurt, Paris and Roma.
• New fancy V7 720sqm lounge at Shanghai Hongqiao Airportthat was open on 9 February 2015. It is one of the most exclusive VIP lounges in China with 222 separate seats.
• Direct flights from Shanghai to Toronto and Auckland since 2014.

The inaugural Corporate Travel World China will be held from 14 – 16 April 2015 in Shanghai and is part of the Shanghai Business Events Week 2015 line-up.BANGKOK, Thailand - Asia's multi-billion-dollar inbound golf tourism industry needs an overhaul if it is to continue growing at the same pace as during the past decade, according to the managing director of the region's leading dedicated inbound golf tour operator, Mark Siegel.

Siegel, who owns Bangkok-based Golfasian and has played a major role in developing golf tourism to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and other Asian markets, says numerous issues could limit future growth:

- Prices are becoming uncompetitive compared with rates in other markets.
- Inbound operators are competing for the same business, much of which is domestic.
- Service standards, including knowledge of English, need to be maintained and improved.
- Stand-alone courses in isolated beachside destinations aren't a viable option for most visitors.
- Too much business is currently concentrated in high season.
- Many courses and facilities developed in the 1990s need upgrading.
- Destination marketing consortiums offer a multi-course approach to attract visitors and should be adopted more widely.
- Active and financial support by government tourism bodies is essential for a country or region to fully exploit its golf tourism potential.

Mark Siegel, who has built Golfasian into a market leader, handling 15,000 inbound golf tourists a year and employing 55 staff in four countries, says amateur tournaments and designated amateur weeks in leading destinations are emerging as a new catalyst to attract golfers.

"The Centara World Masters Golf Championship played in Hua Hin, Thailand last June attracted more than 450 male and female players over the age of 35 from 25 countries. This year it will attract 700 participants, while a tournament with a similar format to be held in Danang, Vietnam in September - the Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship, is also expected to attract several hundred participants."

"The camaraderie and competition these professionally-organised tournaments provide, as well amateur weeks in numerous golf destinations in South East Asia [Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, Danang, Siem Reap] is the biggest development in golf tourism for the past ten years. They tick every box for golfers, destinations, organisers and sponsors. I believe in the next decade every serious golf tourism destination will have a major amateur tournament, which will play a big part in driving new golf tourism business."

Siegel says strategic partnerships involving sponsors seeking to identify with golf tourism, destination marketing organisations, national and regional tourism bodies and professional tour operators are essential for such tournaments to succeed.

"These events, and other forms of co-operation between golf courses and resorts in an area, show that the old days of one standout course attracting large numbers of golfers are over. You can have the best course, but golfers want more. Golfers don't travel only to explore a market, they want a whole golf tourism experience, which is why Thailand and Vietnam, in particular, are now so successful."

Mark Siegel cites Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand, as an example of a course and destination committed to golf tourism. "Here, one owner has multiple courses in one location with 63 holes in total, which is quite unique. They keep prices at a reasonable level, cater for visiting golfers and offer a highly professional experience."

"It's the same with courses like Thai Country Club in Bangkok, which is almost 20 years old, but has been maintained to an impeccable standard, both on and off the course."

"When a course or a destination gets it right, the benefits are huge. Look at Hua Hin in Thailand and Danang in Vietnam. No-one had heard of either 10 years ago. Now they are among the best and most popular golf destinations in Asia because the courses paid attention to the basics, have co-operated together (with hotels too), have kept prices reasonable and offer a wonderful experience. If more destinations copied these models and implemented a whole supply chain on the ground they would be more successful."

Mark Siegel also believes there is a need for consolidation among inbound golf tour operators. "Too many are fighting over the same business, which is often domestic. Fewer and better tour operators would benefit everyone," he maintains.

Referring to prices, Siegel says green fees of $US150-$250 at some SE Asian courses, and in China, are affecting visitor numbers. "Some courses are pricing themselves out of the market, which is sad because every golfer wants to play the best course in a region.

"Asia needs to be careful it doesn't drive golf tourists to other markets, such as Turkey, Portugal, and South Africa and elsewhere. It must remain competitive."

Among the trends Mark Siegel sees for the future are multiple destinations involving one or several countries, more men and women travelling and playing golf together, more low season visitors, and "undiscovered" places - such as Cambodia, Indonesia, and even Laos and Myanmar - to play golf.

"Low season is actually a misnomer in some markets," he says. "In Thailand, June through October is a great time to play golf. It isn't hotter than at other times of the year, prices are cheaper and courses aren't crowded. In high season, December to March, it is the opposite so golfers need to be educated about the climate at different times of the year."

"Hua Hin, for example, has hardly lost a day to rain in the past decade. Chiangmai and Chiangrai are considerably cooler than the lowlands in June and July, and Bali is wonderful during the southern hemisphere winter."

Mark Siegel estimates that golf tourism is worth $US2-$3 billion a year to the economies of SE Asian countries.

"There are more than a million golfers travelling to and within SE Asia each year. Average land packages are $US1000-$1500 per person. Add the cost of flights, food, entertainment and shopping and a typical golfer spends $US2000-3000 on a golf holiday. That's very valuable to the economies of golf tourism destinations."

"It's proof why we have to be careful to protect the market and grow it to two million golfers a year by 2025."

sourced:traveldailynews.asia