Asia Golf Tourism Convention 2012 Press Conference

A press conference for the Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) was held yesterday at the Malaysia Tourism Centre. The panel of four answering media queries included; Zulkifly Md Said (Director of Industry Development Division, Tourism Malaysia), Chris Syer (Executive Director, MGTA), Paul Gibbons (MGTA pro tem president) and Ng Eu Shen (Liberty Golf).

Organised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operations (IAGTO), the inaugural AGTC sold out in March, one month before the event takes place from 22-25 April at the Palace of The Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur.

IAGTO’s president, Peter Walton, said he was glad to see the positive response not only from golf tour operators around the world, but also from the golf resorts, golf clubs, hotels and tourist boards across the Asia Pacific region. 

As a result of the MGTA and Tourism Malaysia’s efforts, golf resorts and golf clubs from across the country are coming together for the event in order to showcase to 140 golf tour operators from 39 countries the wealth and variety of golf tourism options that the country can offer.

Golf resorts, golf clubs, hotels, inbound operators and tourist boards are attending from 17 countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Mauritius, India, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand. These companies will have the opportunity to meet golf tour operators and specialist golf travel agencies, all selling Asia-Pacific golf destinations from 39 countries.

The AGTC will also see the launch of IAGTO ASIA which will see even more of IAGTO’s global resources dedicated to supporting golf destinations throughout the region. Over 120 Asian companies have joined IAGTO this year alone and their Asian membership has already grown to over 15%.

Tourism Malaysia has recognised the important role that golf tourism can play for Malaysia, not only through the direct revenue that it generates but also through the first time international visitors that it brings to the country, whose influence stretches way beyond their actual golf holiday. 

Zulkifly Md Said from Tourism Malaysia explained that the MGTA has pushed the local golf clubs to raise their standards as they realise that the golf tourism market is growing more important.

The MGTA has a clear objective to dramatically increase golf tourism to the country and IAGTO said it was delighted that the inaugural AGTC will be an important landmark in this journey.

Source - golftourismmalaysia