28.5% of European golfers visited Spain to play golf in 2012. Some 12.7% opted for the Costa del Sol, 3.9% for the Costa Brava, 3.2% visited the Canary Islands and 8.7% other areas of the country. This is according to a new study presented this year at the International Golf Travel Market, which is being held on the Costa Daurada in Tarragona. The study, entitled ‘European Spotlight on Golf Tourism to Spain’, commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, organizer of IGTM, and conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys Inc, reveals that Spain is the preferred golf destination for tourists from the UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia.
Richard Payne, Director of SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. said, “The importance of golf tourism to Spain and the wider European economy is evident in light of this study. It also explains why events such as IGTM are vital to anchor international growth in the future of the golf travel market and to keep pace in the face of strong demand.”
Peter Grimster, IGTM Exhibitions Director, said, “This data unveils the scale of the golf tourism industry in Europe and how it accounts for a significant 10% of golf’s total economic impact on the European economy, which is €15.12 billion annually.”
The research, presented to attendees at this year’s IGTM, also uncovered the popularity of other destinations with 17% of golf tourists opting for Portugal, 16.1% visiting Great Britain and Ireland, Turkey taking 7.5% of travel bookings, France taking 7.1% of market share and 6.9% of travelers crossing the pond to the USA. This year’s IGTM golf travel market and the future of the golf and leisure travel market in Europe and the U.S.A. will be a key focus for the IGTM.
“The IGTM is the place where the international golf tourism industry comes together to do business, but it also provides the perfect platform to share positive messages, such as this one, to European companies operating in the golf travel sector. What these figures show is that Spain, and the golf tourism market at a European level, is healthy, attractive and an important revenue generator for the economies of many countries across the region,” added Peter Grimster.
The Catalan region of the Costa Daurada, which is hosting the IGTM 2013, is also growing rapidly as a golf destination. Three years ago, less than 2% of the total rounds played on the Costa Daurada were by international golfers. Today, that ratio has risen to 30% and continues to grow.
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