China’s southernmost city of Sanya has been named Golf Destination of the Year for Asia & Australasia by global golf tourism industry organisation IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators).
The honour was bestowed on Sanya in the prestigious annual IAGTO Awards, which took place at a glittering gala dinner attended by 1400 golf industry professionals at Villa Erba, Lake Como, in Italy, on the final night of the 2014 International Golf Travel Market.
The awards are the benchmark accolades for the golf tourism industry and the five Golf Destination of the Year winners – for North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa & the Gulf States, in addition to Asia & Australasia – are voted for by IAGTO’s 500-plus golf tour operator members, from over 60 countries. Criteria they are asked to consider are: Customer Satisfaction; Quality of Golf Courses & Accommodation; Value for Money; Professional Conduct of Suppliers; Support from the Local Tourism Industry; and Accessibility to Tee Times.
China has become a focal point for golf in recent years, and with central government support for helping to develop Hainan Island into China’s golf epicentre, the spotlight has fallen heavily on Sanya as the province’s only tropical resort. In the last decade or so, Sanya has been making great efforts to boost its golf tourism industry, and a series of seasonal promotional activities have been organised to expand into overseas markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Thailand.
Sanya now has 13 golf courses out of around 50 courses on Hainan Island and all of them are within a one-hour drive, in beautiful surroundings from Luhuitou Peninsula in they city centre to Yalong Bay, the mountains around Baoting and along the coast to Haitang Bay.
Sanya’s golf courses appeal to all levels of golfer, from beginners up to professional players and they include the world-class Yalong Bay Golf Club course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. More domestic and international golf events have been organised each year in the region, helping to give Sanya attention in the golf world. Big-names events include the Sanya Ladies’ Open and the Volvo China Open International Qualifying tournament.
Speaking about the Golf Destination of the Year Award, Tang Sixian, Deputy Director of Sanya Tourism Development Commission, said: “It is a very special moment for Sanya to receive the recognition of IAGTO Golf Tour Operators as the Asia Golf Destination of the Year. Sanya has long been recognised in Asia as China’s tropical paradise, but the incredible quality of our many golf courses, which are all within easy reach of our spectacular beaches and 5 star hotels, is now attracting golf travellers from all continents. As the recipient of this year’s Golf Destination of the Year Award, we would like to invite all golf travellers to consider joining us here for your next golf vacation, in the Sanya Golf Paradise!”
Sanya Tourism Association Executive Chairman Michel Goget, who is General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya, said: “As the only tropical island in China, Sanya features amazing golf clubs and world-famous, internationally-branded resorts. Receiving this award from IAGTO golf tour operators across the world demonstrates that Sanya is now recognised as a truly international golf paradise.
“This past April, we hosted 100 international golf tour operators in Sanya, and they were blown away by the combined experience of top quality golfing, luxurious hotels and superb cuisine, which was topped off by Sanya's amazing beaches and truly tropical flavour that visitors are often surprised to find in China. With the rising popularity of golf tourism, we know what a great golf destination we have, but now it is time for the rest of the world to discover it for themselves!"
