Turismo Costa del Sol has participated in the 26th edition of the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), which was held in Lisbon from 14 to 17 October 2024. This event, considered the most important in the golf tourism sector worldwide, brought together more than 1,300 congress participants from some 50 countries, including 500 industry suppliers, 400 qualified buyers and 100 representatives of specialized media.
The Costa del Sol Tourism delegation, under the brand Costa del Sol – Costa del Golf, was part of an outstanding Spanish contingent that included other regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, as well as the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. Its participation in IGTM has been a key part of the 2024 Action Plan, with the aim of consolidating the destination’s leadership in the main European markets and exploring new opportunities in strategic regions such as the United States, Canada and Asia.
Esperanza González, CEO of Costa del Sol Tourism, stressed the importance of this event for the international promotion of the destination: “Our presence at IGTM 2024 has been essential to further consolidate the Costa del Sol as a world leader in golf tourism. This market is key for us, not only because of its economic impact, but also because of the quality of the tourists it attracts, which contributes significantly to the deseasonalization of our tourism offer”.
During the working days, Turismo Costa del Sol has maintained a proactive approach, securing appointments with key operators from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Scandinavia. The delegation has presented audiovisual and graphic material to strengthen the promotion of the Costa del Sol as a leading destination in the golf segment, and has held meetings with specialized media, who have been informed about the latest improvements of the destination, including its commitment to women’s golf.
“Our main objective in this edition has been to strengthen our relations with European markets, but also to explore new opportunities in emerging markets such as the United States and Asia. IGTM has allowed us to have direct contact with operators and specialized media, which is crucial to improve our visibility and competitiveness,” said Gonzalez.
In addition to establishing new business contacts, Turismo Costa del Sol has taken the opportunity to analyze market trends and competition, with special attention to the forecasts of accommodation and golf package bookings for the spring, autumn and winter season of 2024. They have also evaluated the golf offer of Portugal, host country of this edition, to identify opportunities for improvement and adaptation to market requirements.
Participation in IGTM 2024 has allowed Turismo Costa del Sol to strengthen its position as one of the most attractive destinations for golf lovers, thus contributing to the promotion and marketing of the destination in a competitive global context. As González concluded: “The Costa del Sol – Costa del Golf continues to be a privileged destination for golfers, and we will continue to work to maintain our leadership in this demanding sector.
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