Pattaya Thailand May 15th 2012 - Pattaya has been chosen as the host venue for The 2nd Asia Golf Tourism Convention which will take place from 29th April to 2nd May 2013 at the Royal Cliff Resort.
This premier golf tourism event in Asia is expected to attract over 500 delegates to Pattaya for a Programme of meetings between buyers and suppliers. The event is run by the International Association Of Golf Tour Operators - a trade organisation whose members are responsible for 85% of the worlds Golf holiday package bookings.
Itthiphol Kunplome, Mayor of the City of Pattaya, and Peter Walton, CEO of IAGTO, signed the Agreement confirming Pattaya as the 2013 host city. It is estimated that business emanating from the Event is likely to generate $ millions in high revenue low impact golf tourism over the subsequent 6-18 months for Asia’s golf courses, hotels and resorts meeting with IAGTO members to showcase their products and destinations.
Peter Walton CEO of IGATO said, ‘We anticipate there will be over 180 leading golf tour operators attending, roughly 50% from the Asian markets and the rest from around the World. This will have a major economic impact not only for Pattaya but for Thailand’s tourist industry as a whole. According to our research, the average golf vacationer tends to spend in the destinations around 120% more per person per day than other vacationers.’
Itthiphol Kunplome agreed, ‘There are huge benefits for Pattaya hosting the AGTC. We won the IAGTO Golf Destination of the Year Award 2012 for Asia and Australasia, and now winning the right to host this prestigious convention, we have a great opportunity to develop our city and to represent Thailand’s golf industry. It will definitely boost our economy as all these delegates will have the chance to visit our leading hotels, see our fantastic tourist attractions and to sample our first class golf courses.’
Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Panga Vathanakul, was delighted to be selected as the host venue. ‘We are already supporting the local golf clubs with our Royal Golf Package and we are now honored that so many suppliers and buyers from the golf industry will be staying with us next April. We will be working closely with Solar Golf, Pattaya’s leading destination management company, who will be handling the overall event coordination.’
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau played a major role in assisting Pattaya’s successful bid, along with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the East Coast Golf Course Management Association. The EGA’s member golf clubs will be hosting familiarization trips for the delegates. Mike Mesommonta, their Director said, ’during the convention we will be hosting a tournament for all the delegates at two 18 hole golf courses and other EGA member courses will have the opportunity to welcome the operators during the pre and post fam trips. This event will help our locally based tour operators tremendously and bring new business to our member clubs. They will be able to see the high standard of our courses, the first class facilities’ and they will be able to enjoy a round of golf with our wonderful smiling Thai caddies as well.’
Image: Itthiphol Kunplome, the Mayor of Pattaya signing the agreement to host this prestigious event with Peter Walton, CEO at IGATO, and the Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Mrs Panga Vathanakul and Mike Mesommonta, from the EGA.
