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About IAGTO |
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IAGTO was set up in 1997 as a representative body for a number of the world's leading
golf tour operators.* By the year 2000 IAGTO was well
established as the global trade association of the golf tourism industry, and by
2007 it had over 900 member companies in 72 countries. |
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The dynamic growth of this organisation is testament to the unrivalled importance
of this €12 billion industry within the global arena of sports travel. |
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IGTM |
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In its first year, IAGTO established the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM)
which has become the industry's annual trade show, now owned and operated by Reed
Exhibition Companies, a world leader in travel and golf exhibitions. IGTM attracts
over 1000 delegates each December as it moves around the world in its roving tour
of emerging and established golf destinations. |
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Golf Tourism Surveys |
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For such an important niche market, the lack of appliable tourism data was immediately
apparent, which led IAGTO in 1998 to assist Sports Marketing Surveys carry out a
wide-ranging golf tourism survey. In 2000, IAGTO purchased the rights to the Millennium
European Golf Tourism Survey. IAGTO monitors golf tourism surveys from around the
world and brings them to the attention of its members. IAGTO's own Global Golf Tourism
Survey will enable IAGTO members to be the first to learn about developing trends
and preferences of golf travellers around the world. |
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IGTWA |
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Aware that the majority of golfers actively seek the delights and challenges of
golf travel, the world's leisure and golfing publications have long understood both
the aspirational and practical attraction of golf travel features. For decades,
serious golf writers have enjoyed the accreditation of recognised golf writer associations.
In 2000 IAGTO remedied the situation for golf travel writers by establishing the International
Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) - the only global association of its kind
for specialist golf travel journalists. |
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IAGTO Awards |
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Again in 2000, IAGTO sought to reward the wonderful achievements of many undiscovered,
emerging and established golf destinations by launching the IAGTO Golf Travel Awards.
The success of the golf travel industry will forever be dependent on the overall
popularity of the game, and the highlights of the first six Awards Ceremonies were
the presentations of IAGTO Honorary Awards to Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros,
Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Nick Faldo. The Awards are produced in
association with Hertz which is committed to delivering the best possible car rental
service for golf travellers. |
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IAGTO Guides |
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One of IAGTO's most important roles is to raise and maintain standards throughout
the golf travel industry. In 2001 IAGTO published the first in a series of IAGTO
Guides designed as a benchmark for standards within the golf tourism industry. The
IAGTO Guide to improving Speed of Play is a practical guide for golf courses as
is the IAGTO Golf Course Check List. In 2000 IAGTO published the first official
annual Golf Tourism Directory for the industry, which in 2007 exceeds 225 pages
of essential information for companies in the golf tourism business. |
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IAGTO provides a focus for the golf tourism industry, and will continue into the
21st Century to help further develop a niche market that provides endless enjoyment
to millions of golfers every year in all corners of the globe. |
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* IAGTO Ltd is registered in England No. 3507678 under
UK SIC Code 9112 "Membership Organisation/Professional Organisation" (VAT No. 710
1940 78). Director: Peter Walton. |
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