Desaru, Malaysia: Award-winning Els Club Desaru Coast will have the honour of teeing-off the first leg of next year’s ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament.

To be staged on February 16-17, more than 200 golfers from ASEAN countries will line-up in the event that aims to provide a boost to Visit Johor Year (VJY) 2020.

The opening event of the three-leg ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament is being organised by Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA), an independent member-based association that provides support to all golf fraternities in promoting Johor as an outstanding golfing destination.

The second leg is scheduled to take place at Phuket Country Club and Loch Palm Golf Club in Thailand in June with the third leg heading to Club Golf Bogor Raya and Rainbow Hills Golf Club in Indonesia in September.

The closing ceremony will be held on December 5-6 at the Mahkota Golf & Country Club and Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort in Pahang, Malaysia.

Colonel Mohd Jamal Salleh, President, JGTA, led a contingent from the JGTA and the Els Club Desaru Coast to Thailand for the Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 Promotions at the Phuket Business Community Development.

The ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament was officially launched at the Phuket Country Club in the presence of almost 200 attendees, including golfers, Thai media, invited guests, and hotel and tour operators from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Colonel Jamal said: “The ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament is regarded as an epic event for Johor as it is held in conjunction with VJY 2020 that is aimed to attract more tourists into the State, in particular, golf enthusiasts and their families from ASEAN.

“One of the main objectives of the ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament is to enhance and promote ASEAN as a competitive golf destination in Asia Pacific to leverage the dozens of outstanding courses in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. Additionally, it’s to encourage intra-ASEAN golf travel and to strengthen ASEAN’s golf tourism industry, broadening co-operation in golf tourism among ASEAN member states.”

Colonel Jamal is confident the tournament will act as a stimulus in promoting other tourism sectors in Johor, such as high-end attractions, natural tourism spots, water sports, wellness and spa, medical, education, shopping, food, arts and culture.

According to Colonel Jamal, Johor receives between 500,000 and 600,000 golfers each year, mostly coming from Singapore, South Korea and Japan. This number is expected to grow next year due to increased promotional initiatives to boost the golf industry for VJY Year 2020.

JGTA currently organises half-a-dozen tournaments annually. It hopes to increase that figure in 2020 as well as bringing in professional golfers to support the VJY 2020. The Laksamana Trophy Charity Golf Tournament and the Tourism Johor Golf Tournament for the Tunku Panglima Johor Challenge Trophy are among the events organised and staged by the JGTA.

Johor boasts the highest number of golf courses in any of Malaysia’s States. In total, there are 28 courses of varying degrees of exclusiveness. There are two 54-hole establishments, three 36-hole facilities, three 27-hole venues, 11 18-hole courses, and nine nine-hole layouts.

Colonel Jamal said: “We expect the ASEAN Tourism Golf Tournament to attract avid and serious social golfers to come to Johor with their families to enjoy a complete holiday experience. Johor has much to offer for children and adults. Furthermore, Desaru Coast is a popular holiday destination among local and international tourists as the beaches are pristine and perfect for swimming, water sports and snorkelling.

“Desaru Coast is a newly-completed, premium integrated destination resort situated at the south-eastern coast of Johor facing the South China Sea. Desaru Coast also accommodates four globally renowned five-star hotels along with an Adventure Water Theme Park and an entertainment park and restaurants.

“To this end, we are confident that our tournament participants and their families will enjoy the beautiful golf courses at the Els Club Desaru Coast, the impeccable accommodation and the famous Johorean warm and personalised hospitality.”