Bangkok, Thailand: Asia’s multi-billion-dollar inbound golf tourism industry needs an overhaul if it is to continue growing at the same pace as during the past decade.
That is the view of Mark Siegel, owner of Bangkok-based Golfasian, one of the region’s leading dedicated inbound golf tour operators.
Siegel, who has played a major role in developing golf tourism to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and other Asian markets, says numerous issues could limit future growth:
*Prices are becoming uncompetitive compared with rates in other markets.
*Inbound operators are competing for the same business, much of which is domestic.
*Service standards, including knowledge of English, need to be maintained and improved.
*Standalone courses in isolated beachside destinations aren’t a viable option for most visitors.
*Too much business is currently concentrated in high season.
*Many courses and facilities developed in the 1990s need upgrading.
*Destination marketing consortiums offer a multi-course approach to attract visitors and should be adopted more widely.
*Active and financial support by government tourism bodies is essential for a country or region to fully exploit its golf tourism potential.
Siegel, whose company handles 15,000 inbound golf tourists a year and employs 55 staff in four countries, says amateur tournaments and designated amateur weeks in leading destinations are emerging as a new catalyst to attract golfers.
“The Centara World Masters Golf Championship [in Hua Hin, Thailand] last June attracted more than 450 male and female players over the age of 35 from 25 countries. This year it will attract 700 participants, while a tournament with a similar format to be held in Danang, Vietnam in September – the Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship, is also expected to attract several hundred participants.
“The camaraderie and competition these professionally-organised tournaments provide, as well amateur weeks in numerous golf destinations in Southeast Asia [Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, Danang, Siem Reap] is the biggest development in golf tourism for the past 10 years.
“They tick every box for golfers, destinations, organisers and sponsors. I believe in the next decade every serious golf tourism destination will have a major amateur tournament, which will play a big part in driving new golf tourism business.”
Siegel says strategic partnerships involving sponsors seeking to identify with golf tourism, destination marketing organisations, national and regional tourism bodies and professional tour operators are essential for such tournaments to succeed.
“These events, and other forms of co-operation between golf courses and resorts in an area, show that the old days of one standout course attracting large numbers of golfers are over.
“You can have the best course, but golfers want more. Golfers don’t travel only to explore a market, they want a whole golf tourism experience, which is why Thailand and Vietnam, in particular, are now so successful.
“When a course or a destination gets it right, the benefits are huge. Look at Hua Hin in Thailand and Danang in Vietnam. No-one had heard of either 10 years ago.
“Now they are among the best and most popular golf destinations in Asia because the courses paid attention to the basics, have co-operated together (with hotels too), have kept prices reasonable and offer a wonderful experience. If more destinations copied these models and implemented a whole supply chain on the ground they would be more successful.”
Siegel also believes there is a need for consolidation among inbound golf tour operators. “Too many are fighting over the same business, which is often domestic. Fewer and better tour operators would benefit everyone,” he maintains.
Referring to prices, Siegel says green fees of US$150-US$250 at some Southeast Asian courses, and in China, are affecting visitor numbers. “Some courses are pricing themselves out of the market, which is sad because every golfer wants to play the best course in a region.
“Asia needs to be careful it doesn’t drive golf tourists to other markets, such as Turkey, Portugal, and South Africa and elsewhere. It must remain competitive.”
Among the trends Siegel sees for the future are multiple destinations involving one or several countries, more men and women travelling and playing golf together, more low season visitors, and ‘undiscovered’ places – such as Cambodia, Indonesia, and even Laos and Myanmar – to play golf.
“Low season is actually a misnomer in some markets,” he said. “In Thailand, June through October is a great time to play golf. It isn’t hotter than at other times of the year, prices are cheaper and courses aren’t crowded. In high season, December to March, it is the opposite so golfers need to be educated about the climate at different times of the year.
“Hua Hin, for example, has hardly lost a day to rain in the past decade. Chiangmai and Chiangrai are considerably cooler than the lowlands in June and July, and Bali is wonderful during the southern hemisphere winter.”
Siegel estimates that golf tourism is worth US$2-US$3 billion a year to the economies of Southeast Asian countries.
“There are more than a million golfers travelling to and within Southeast Asia each year. Average land packages are US$1,000-US$1,500 per person. Add the cost of flights, food, entertainment and shopping and a typical golfer spends US$2,000-US$3,000 on a golf holiday. That’s very valuable to the economies of golf tourism destinations.
“It’s proof why we have to be careful to protect the market and grow it to two million golfers a year by 2025.”