Need to harness potential of golf tourism to raise inflow of foreign tourist arrivals: Tourism Minister
Updated: Oct 26, 2015 05:25:33pm
Mumbai, Oct 26 (KNN) Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism, today told delegates at the FICCI Golf Tourism Summit here and tourism industry stakeholders to put their heads together to promote India as an all-season tourist destination and harness the potential of golf tourism to strengthen the flow of foreign tourist arrivals into the country.
Sharma said that sports tourism in India is gaining interest, especially after the successful completion of Commonwealth Games 2010. One of the latest trends in golf tourism is the fact that there has been a recent surge in the interest levels amongst youth, the world over.
India has several golf courses of international standards and golf events in India attract domestic and international tourists.
With international tourists expected to grow in the next few years, he said that it was important that India has the right product to meet the need of the visitors.
The Minister said that in order to tap the growing interest in golf tourism, the Ministry of Tourism is creating a comprehensive and coordinated framework for promoting golf tourism in India, capitalizing on the existing work that is being carried out, and building upon the strength of India’s position as the fastest growing free market economy.
With international tourists expected to grow in the next few years, it is important that India has the right product to meet the need of the visitors. According to an independent study, 52 % of travelling golfers are likely to take two or more golfing holidays in a year and they spend on an average, 33% more on their holidays as compared to regular holiday makers. It is stated that 70 - 78% golfers would be prepared to visit a new golfing destination and this community represents the wealthiest 50% of all golfers.
Realizing the potential to develop Golf Tourism as the niche tourism product for attracting both domestic and international tourists, the Ministry of Tourism, has revised guidelines to develop and promote India as a preferred Golf Tourism destination. The objective is to promote Indi a as a multiple tourism attraction destination offering varied niche tourism products to make India a 365-day destination.
Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, in his address, pointed out that the growth of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) has been encouraging with arrivals rising by 10.2% in 2014 over the previous year compared with the global average of 4%. Between 2010-14, FTAs rose by 7% against the global average of 5%.
India, he said, was becoming a niche player in Golf Tourism with 22 functional golf courses, 30 of them suitable for professional golfers and 15 signature golf courses. (KNN Bureau)
Sharma said that sports tourism in India is gaining interest, especially after the successful completion of Commonwealth Games 2010. One of the latest trends in golf tourism is the fact that there has been a recent surge in the interest levels amongst youth, the world over.
India has several golf courses of international standards and golf events in India attract domestic and international tourists.
With international tourists expected to grow in the next few years, he said that it was important that India has the right product to meet the need of the visitors.
The Minister said that in order to tap the growing interest in golf tourism, the Ministry of Tourism is creating a comprehensive and coordinated framework for promoting golf tourism in India, capitalizing on the existing work that is being carried out, and building upon the strength of India’s position as the fastest growing free market economy.
With international tourists expected to grow in the next few years, it is important that India has the right product to meet the need of the visitors. According to an independent study, 52 % of travelling golfers are likely to take two or more golfing holidays in a year and they spend on an average, 33% more on their holidays as compared to regular holiday makers. It is stated that 70 - 78% golfers would be prepared to visit a new golfing destination and this community represents the wealthiest 50% of all golfers.
Realizing the potential to develop Golf Tourism as the niche tourism product for attracting both domestic and international tourists, the Ministry of Tourism, has revised guidelines to develop and promote India as a preferred Golf Tourism destination. The objective is to promote Indi a as a multiple tourism attraction destination offering varied niche tourism products to make India a 365-day destination.
Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, in his address, pointed out that the growth of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) has been encouraging with arrivals rising by 10.2% in 2014 over the previous year compared with the global average of 4%. Between 2010-14, FTAs rose by 7% against the global average of 5%.
India, he said, was becoming a niche player in Golf Tourism with 22 functional golf courses, 30 of them suitable for professional golfers and 15 signature golf courses. (KNN Bureau)
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