AGTC 2017: Danang is transferred with Golf Tourism Development Strategy by IAGTO  12:00, 09/05/2017

On May 8, AGTC 2017 officially took place with the first trading day fully participated by delegates who are buyers and sellers from golf tour operators, representatives of the Golf courses in Europe and other countries in the Asia Pacific region, mainly from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, China,... Vietnam has nearly 30 delegates including famous golf corporations like FLC Group, BRG Group, Vinpearl Group, Long Thanh Company, representatives of Vietnam's  golf courses, golf travel companies, and 5* resort & hotels in Danang and Vietnam.

Taking place concurrently with the Buyer meet Supplier Sessions of AGTC is the International Forum on Golf Tourism Value held at Lotus Ballroom, Pullman Danang Resort. As an important part of AGTC 2017, the Forum will hold the discussion on the potentials of golf tourism and introduce Danang Golf Tourism Strategy 2017 - 2022.

At the Forum, Mr. Ngo Hoai Chung, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism make an opening speech and Vietnam golf tourism development. According to mr. Chung, in order to develop golf tourism, Vietnam should focus on the following main solutions: continuing to promulgate open-minded policies, improving the investment environment in a transparent and favorable manner; increasing the tourism marketing activites; enhancing the cooperation among the golf courses in Vietnam and other ones in the region; continuing to propose new policies to create more favorable conditions for tourists to enter Vietnam; developing other types of tourism in combination of golfing to create rich and attractive tourist products;...

Next is the practical suggestions to develop golf tourism in Vietnam: Mr. Le Van Kiem, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Olympic Committees, Chairman of Long Thanh Investment & Trading jsc. One of the his outstanding suggestions to promote the development of golf tourism in Vietnam is the necessity to set up a new organization - Vietnam Golf Tourism Association to coordinate the domestic golf courses more efficiently and attract better tour operators around the world.

Especially, the speech on The value of golf tourism to the Thai tourism economy of Mr. Santi Chidintra, Deputy Govenor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, is really helpful and worthy for Vietnam golf tourism to follow. For example, Golf tourism helps promote not only Thailand's main tourist destinations but also smaller/ less touristic ones; golf tourism boost ecomony of major "Weekend destinations" during the weekdays, what makes the success of Thailand golf tourism is 3Vs: Variety, Value, and Very Thai,...

On the sustainable golf development in Vietnam, Mr. Sam Thomas, Manager of GEO, emphasized that it is necessary to focus on enviromental sustainability, water and resource conservations & community engagement.

In the aspect of golf club manager, Mr. Jon Tomlinson, Senior Director of Operations of IGM Golf, also shared his speech on managing great golf: 10 key messages for Vietnam golf courses to consider in order to deliver a great of experience to visitors, including effective planning of golf club management, financial performance, operating brand standards, human resources, sales and marketing, guest personalization and anticipating needs and issues, quality control, destination marketing, and growing the game of golf in Vietnam.

The conference took place in 3 hours with keen speeches from the guests and closed successfully with the speech of Peter Walton - IAGTO's president. Last but not least is the Ceremony of Transferring of Golf Tourism Development Strategy from IAGTO to Da Nang's leaders with a commitment to increase USD 20 million (VND 460 billion) per year in 2017/2018 after the implementation of this strategy.

Follows are photos on the day of "Buyer meet Supplier Sessions":