Dec. 27, 2004 – Scotland has been named as the winner of the Established Golf Destination of the Year Award by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
The IAGTO Awards ceremony will take place this year on the 8th December in Estoril near Lisbon in Portugal in front of 850 golf tourism delegates from around the world. The awards are held each December during the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), which is the world’s premier trade show focusing on golf travel.
Scotland is privileged to have over 540 spectacular golf courses across the country ranging from world-class championship courses such as the Old course at St Andrews where the Open Championship will be held in 2005, to our five star inland courses and a number of more local courses around the country.
Golf is a lucrative area for Scotland and is worth over £300 million to the Scottish economy. Golfing visitors on average spend more than double that of other visitors to Scotland and for every £1 spent on green fees a further £5 is spent elsewhere in the Scottish economy.
Attending the awards will be former winner and captain of the Ryder Cup team, Sam Torrance. Sam was unveiled as a new ambassador for golfing tourism in Scotland, as part of VisitScotland’s drive for the Ryder Cup 2014.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Patricia Ferguson said: "I am delighted that Scotland has won the prestigious "Established Golf Destination of the Year Award".
"Golf tourism is an important market for Scotland which is valued at £300 million having seen an £200 million increase in revenue over the last four years. These impressive figures illustrate that if we are imaginative about marketing our unique product, golf tourism provides enormous potential for growth.
"Scotland is famed as 'the Home of Golf' and boasts some of the world’s finest courses, and I want us to build on that richly deserved reputation. To achieve our ambitious plans to grow tourism revenues by 50% over the next decade we need to offer top quality services, food and accommodation, so we can ensure Scotland is a must-visit destination for the world's golfers, their friends and families."
VisitScotland’s chief executive Philip Riddle, who will be collecting the award on the night said: "We are all delighted about this well deserved recognition for our wonderful golf courses and for those involved in managing and promoting them. This helps to reinforce our position as the Home of Golf. We are aiming to boost Scottish tourism revenues by 50% within ten years and the high quality golf experience we can offer is vital to achieving this goal."
The awards are voted for by IAGTO’s 165 tour operators from 32 different countries. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be the best performing golf destinations this year. The following criteria are considered:
· Customer Satisfaction
· Quality of Golf Courses and Accommodation
· Value for money
· Professional Conduct of Suppliers
· Support from the Local Tourism Industry
· Accessibility to Tee Times
· The country with the highest ranking wins.
Tourism industry partners attending IGTM with VisitScotland are:
The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St. Andrews
St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa
Wilkinson Golf
Links Golf St. Andrews
Myres Castle & The Inn at Lathones
Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
The Carrick on Loch Lomond
Scottish Golf Southwest
Golf Highland
The Marcliffe at Pitfodels
Aberdeen & Grampian Tourist Board
Murrayshall House Hotel & Golf Course
The Green Hotel, Kinross
Contact:
Steven Chorley
VisitScotland Press Office
Tel: +44 (0) 131 472 2219
