Danang, Vietnam: The 2023 Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Danang Conference will help to further enhance the reputation of the coastal city in central Vietnam as one of the world’s premier golfing destinations.

Held in conjunction with the BRG Group and Danang Tourism, the second edition of the AGIF Danang Conference will take place from August 28-31.

To be staged at the BRG Group-owned Sheraton Grand Hotel, the conference is part of a week-long golfing festival during which BRG Da Nang Golf Resort will host a 54-hole tournament on the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.

With an enticing combination of high-quality golf, stunning beaches and luxury resorts, Central Vietnam is widely regarded as the nation’s hub for golf tourism.

Adam Calver, AGIF Vice President and Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, said: “After the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, golf tourism into Vietnam is surging once more.

“Golfing tourists from around the globe are becoming increasingly aware that the country in general and Danang in particular, have all the ingredients of the world’s finest golf tourism destinations.”

While inbound golf tourism is growing rapidly, so, too, is the indigenous golfing population, currently estimated at 100,000. According to Vietnam Tourism officials that figure is projected to increase to more than 300,000 by 2025.

Credence to those projections will be provided at the Conference by senior officials from the Danang Department of Tourism, and Nguyen Thai Duong, Vice Secretary General of the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) and Golf Specialist with the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism.

In their presentation on ‘Growing Tourism via Golf’, the Danang Department of Tourism will update delegates on the continued rise in the number of golf courses in Vietnam.

“We were excited to bring the Asian Development Tour to Danang for the first time last year and delighted that it was complemented by the AGIF Danang Conference, which brought golf experts and golf expertise to Danang.

“With the staging of the AGIF Danang Conference and the BRG Open Golf Championship again this year it will help to underline Danang’s growing tourism reputation in our bid to become the number one golfing destination in Asia,” said a spokesperson for the Danang Department of Tourism.

During his presentation, Duong will outline the VGA’s development programmes aimed at increasing golfing participation across the country and staging more events at amateur and professional level.

Those efforts have been hugely boosted in recent months with Nguyen Anh Minh becoming the first Vietnamese winner of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, held at Laguna Lang Co in April.

The following month, Minh helped Vietnam to the silver medal in men’s team tournament at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia. Minh also won the individual bronze medal while fellow-teenager Le Khanh Hung was the surprise gold medallist.

As well as being feted on their return to their home country, Khanh Hung and Anh Ming received financial rewards from the VGA. Khanh Hung was awarded 50 million VND (about US$2,100) and a Certificate of Merit with Anh Minh receiving 20 million VND (about US$850) and a Certificate of Merit.

AT A GLANCE

Name: AGIF Danang Conference

Date: August 28-31, 2023

Venue: Sheraton Grand Hotel, Danang, Vietnam

Organisers: Asian Golf Industry Federation, Danang Tourism, BRG Group

*For further details about sponsorship opportunities and attending the Conference as a delegate, please contact the AGIF’s Fran Hughes at membership@agif.asia