SL to be promoted as a golf tourism destination
Golf tourism has been valued at US$ 20 billion with over 50 million golf tourists travelling the world to play on some of the estimated 32000 course, according to industry data.
RCGC captain Michael Magala with Taiheiya Club Director Jiro Nonaka sealing the deal. NWS Holdings Chairman Takashi Igarashi and CEO Viraj Malewane are also in the picture. Pic by Ranjit Perera
This industry has huge growth potential with 1000 new golf courses being built every year, Taiheiyo Club President and CEO Shun Han who was recently in Sri Lanka launch a landmark membership programme with the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) Sri Lanka told the Business Times.
“There are 25 million golfers in North America, over five million in Europe, and participation in Asia is growing at an astronomical rate,” he said on the sidelines of this launch, adding that golf destinations are competing for the affluent, high-value adding tourists who create significantly above-average per capita revenues for the destinations they patronize.
Taiheiyo Club, founded in 1971, is a leader in Japan’s golfing world with a membership of over 17000 with 17 PGA standard courses across the country. The Club operates another course in Hong Kong too.
Taiheiyo Club Director Jiro Nonaka and its General Manager Masahiro Honma are in Sri Lanka to commemorate the launch of the programme and were joined by a five-member Japanese TV crew who will broadcast the event in Tokyo. The tie-up was sealed at by Mr. Han and RCGC Captain Michael Magala, who said, “This is a historic occasion between Sri Lanka and Japan. We can further boost bilateral ties via golf. This is a significant fillip to develop golf tourism.”
The golf tourists, are predominately male, middle-aged or in their early retirement years, although this profile is changing with more females entering the sport, according to Mr. Han. “However, there are some variations worldwide, as there are differences in the way golf tourism is consumed, Mr. Han said.
The Golf Tourism Product, which primarily consists of golf tours and packages, the courses themselves, and the hotels and resorts serving the golf tourists. The contribution that golf events and their high-profile competitors can make to the overall golf industry economy, Mr. Han said, adding that the different types of golf events around the world, and the spectators that attend them.
Takashi Igarashi, Chairman NWS Holdings who was instrumental in introducing the Taiheiyo Club to Sri Lanka said golf is a unique sport to promote Sri Lanka tourism and emphasized that the partnership comes hot on the heels of Japanese Premier Abe Shinzo’s historic visit Sri Lanka recently.
The officials from the Taiheiyo Club, which has 17 courses in Japan, plan to promote hundreds of the club’s members to visit Sri Lanka to play golf.
The Membership Programme between Taiheiyo and RCGC will create awareness amongst the 17,000 members of Taiheiyo Club Japan about Sri Lanka and they will be permitted to play on the RCGC course free of charge. In turn, RCGC members will enjoy the same benefit in Tokyo and , the Japanese club will promote high profile players to visit Colombo.
“There is a huge opportunity to promote Golf Tourism in Sri Lanka with its beauty and comfortable weather and lifestyle. I have long fostered a desire to bring wealthy Japanese tourists to Sri Lanka to enjoy this country and golf,” Mr. Igarashi said a media statement.