Phuket, Thailand: Golf is at the centre of Thailand’s latest initiative to boost tourist confidence in the country and revive the economy.

In the wake of the success of its pilot project – Phuket Sandbox – kick-starting tourism in Phuket, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) have announced further golfing plans for the southern Thai province.

With co-operation from the Professional Golf Association of Thailand (Thailand PGA) and the All-Thailand Golf Tour, a ‘Sandbox Tournament’ series is to be launched along with more activities to promote golf among international tourists as well as expatriates living in Thailand.

Speaking during a press conference in Phuket, Tanes Petsuwan, the TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said the main goal is to create awareness of Phuket and its golf courses in terms of safety that meet the standards set by the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA), while also being certified by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) with the Safe Travels Stamp.

The move is to ultimately elevate Thailand’s safety standards to an internationally accepted level and declare Thailand’s readiness in welcoming tourists to Phuket as well as other provinces, he added.

It was confirmed that the All-Thailand Golf Tour 2021 will include seven events, teeing-off with the Singha All-Thailand Championship at Phuket’s Blue Canyon Country Club (September 23-26) and the Singha Laguna Phuket Open (October 7-10) at Laguna Golf Club, Phuket.

Both golf courses have been certified to meet the SHA Plus standards.

Joining Tanes at the press conference were His Excellency Phipat Ratchakijprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Pichet Panapong, Vice-Governor of Phuket province, and Laguna Phuket’s Paul Wilson.

Phiphat said that from July 1 to August 31, the Phuket Sandbox project welcomed 26,400 visitors and generated more than THB1.6 billion in revenue.

This year, the TAT has highlighted golf by promoting the Minister Cup at Alpine Golf Club in Pathum Thani province and the Amazing Thailand Expat Golf Tournament Series held for the first time last month at the Blue Canyon.