Hua Hin, Thailand: The impact of the Centara World Masters Golf Championship on tourism and Hua Hin’s local community continues to grow.

More than 480 participants competed in the eighth edition of the event, staged over two of Thailand’s best-known courses, Black Mountain and Banyan.

“We are extremely grateful to all the courses and our main sponsors Centara and Amazing Thailand for helping us create such an incredible event,” said Mark Siegel, CEO at Golfasian, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“The impact it has on tourism and the local community is immense, and we are already planning to add new locations and venues to our 2024 schedule,” added Siegel.

Spanning seven days, this year’s event brought together male and female golf vacationers from more than 18 countries.

One of the appeals is that the tournament is run along the lines of a professional Tour event with practice days, sponsor hoardings around the courses, and all caddies wearing bibs with players’ names and countries.

As well as offering prizes valued at more than US$30,000, competitors enjoyed nightly parties, and a major gala dinner. The tournament also raises thousands of baht for local charities.

Centara Grand’s General Manager Jan Weisheit said the event is the hotel’s largest annual client.

He said: “We had 960 room nights, and the Hilton also took a further 340 room bookings. The golfers also spent money in our restaurants and bars, and many local suppliers including bus companies, Tuk Tuk drivers. Even local spas were busy, too. This is our eighth time hosting the Centara World Masters and each year it gets bigger.”

Including the Hua Hin event, over 1,000 golf vacationers have already confirmed their participation with Golfasian events this year in Pattaya, Phuket, and Vietnam’s Danang.

Siegel said: “We are seeing a great interest from international golf vacationers for participation events and expect to increase the number of tournaments on offer in more destinations in 2024.

“This is great for Asia’s hospitality, as these vacationers tend to stay in the four and five-star hotels and spend money with the golf clubs, the caddies, plus local taxis and restaurants.”