PRESS RELEASES - 31st October 2018
THIRD SCOTTISH GOLF TOURISM WEEK DRIVES ECONOMIC BOOST FOR SCOTLAND
The third Scottish Golf Tourism Week was officially opened today (Wednesday 31st October) by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, as part of Scotland’s drive to hit the £300 million target for golf tourism by 2020.
The only event of its kind in the world, Scottish Golf Tourism Week is taking place at Fairmont St Andrews and brings the world’s leading golf buyers to Scotland for an exceptional week of familiarisation trips and one to one meetings with golf tourism businesses from across the country.
The event is supported by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise and is now in its third year, bringing together over 90 of the world’s leading golf tour operators with 93 businesses interested in attracting visiting golfers. The result will be almost 4000 face-to-face meetings, with the potential to significantly increase the 220,000 golf tourists visiting Scotland annually.
A recent study highlighted the value of golf tourism to Scotland at £286 million per year, an increase from the 2007 figure of £220 million and on track to achieve the £300 million target by 2020 listed in Scotland’s Golf Tourism Strategy, Driving Forward Together.
Attending at the start of two days of face to face business meetings at Fairmont St Andrews, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said; “I am delighted to formally launch Scottish Golf Tourism Week 2017. This event plays a key role in our drive to firmly establish Scotland as the world’s leading golf destination. As a whole, the Scottish golf industry is worth more than £1.1 billion per year, supporting more than 20,000 jobs, with golf tourism contributing £286 million but even so, we know there is huge potential for growth. Our Driving Forward Together’ strategy is the roadmap for achieving golf tourism growth in Scotland, reaching £300million by 2020.”
Scotland’s national tourism organisation, VisitScotland, describes Scottish Golf Tourism Week as a “game changer” for golf tourism businesses in Scotland.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said; “Scottish Golf Tourism Week provides the perfect platform for international golf tour operators to get a taste of what Scotland, the Home of Golf has to offer and to encourage them to bring even more of their clients to experience the game in the country in which it was created. Not only does Scottish Golf Tourism Week deliver enhanced relationships between tour operators and our golf tourism businesses through almost 4,000 face to face meetings, it also affords the opportunity to showcase our magnificent golfing product through a series of familiarisation trips and ultimately contribute to the growth of an industry which is already worth in excess of £286 million per year to Scotland’s economy.
“Golf tourism is a vital contributor to Scotland’s visitor economy through strong regional spread of visitors and the fact that for every £1 a golfer spends on green fees, they will spend £5 elsewhere on accommodation, food, retail or entertainment. Our support of Scottish Golf Tourism Week is a key component of our activities to further grow the Scottish golf tourism sector and to encourage more diverse visitors to Scotland, the Home of Golf.”
Scottish Golf Tourism Week is organised by PSP Media Group, who also run the successful Scottish Golf Show, as a way of giving more Scottish businesses, particularly those who do not have the resources to attend overseas events, unparalleled access to global tour operators and buyers.
Tom Lovering, Commercial Director at PSP Media said; “Scotland is the first country in the world to bring golf tourism businesses and global buyers together on home soil, allowing an outstanding golfing product to speak for itself. With each year, Scottish Golf Tourism Week has grown in scale and popularity and is now firmly established as part of Scotland’s long term strategy to increase the value of golf tourism to the economy.”
He continued; “Scottish businesses are offered the chance to exhibit on an individual basis at the event, where they have the opportunity to meet each of the buyers face-to-face. For many of the smaller businesses, this is a unique opportunity to engage with key tour operators at an event of this scale.”
As well as one to one meetings and familiarisation trips, Scottish Golf Tourism Week also offers seminars and networking opportunities throughout the week, culminating in the prestigious Scottish Golf Tourism Awards 2018. This spectacular evening sees Scotland’s top golf courses and hotels vying for the top prizes, as voted for by the golfing public.
For more information about the Scottish Golf Tourism Week 2018, please contact Gaynor Simpson at Vibrant PR on 07790104073 or email gaynor@wearevibrant.co.uk