Wales Masters of Golf
11 Apr 2014 04:06 PM
As Golf fans turn their
eyes towards the US Masters in Augusta, Georgia this weekend, figures released
last week show that golf tourism to Wales saw a 14 % increase in its value to
the Welsh economy in 2013 compared with 2012
The total value of Golf Tourism
in 2013 was £38 million, an increase of £4.7 million compared with
2012 and roughly on a par with 2011. The Golf Tourism Monitor has been running
since 2004. Between 2004 and 2013 there has been a net 41% increase in
the total volume of golf visitors to Wales, while total related expenditure has
risen by 65%. In the period 2004-13, golf tourism to Wales has generated
£313 million to the economy with a total of 1.72 million golf
visits.
According to the figures there
were some 196,000 golf visitors to Wales in 2013 (including day visitors), an
increase of 11% over 2012 and almost 4% higher than 2011, the year
following Ryder Cup. The 2013 total is approaching the record figure of
200,000achieved in Ryder Cup year 2010.
74,000 golfers made an overnight
stay of at least one night in Wales in 2013, more than 12% up in comparison
with 2012. Expenditure by these staying golfers also rose by over 11%.
The increase came from both green fee and non-green fee
expenditure.
The volume of golf day visits in
2013 was 122,000, 10% up on 2012, while expenditure on these trips was 30% up,
largely due to higher expenditure on non-green fee items such as meals and
drinks, assisted by the good weather.
Minister for Tourism, Edwina
Hart said:
“These figures show the
importance of golf tourism to our economy and that hosting the Ryder Cup in
2010 and looking forward to the hosting of our first Major with The Senior Open
Championship being played a t Royal Porthcawl this July has played an important
part in raising the profile of Wales as a golf destination – a
destination where visitors can experience golf as it should
be.
“As the US Masters gets
underway, Wales will also be seen on TV screens as the Visit Wales golf advert
will be broadcast on Sky Sports and Sky Sports 1 during the tournament as a
reminder of what Wales has to offer.”
Visit Wales will also launch a
redesigned golf tourism website golfasitshouldbe.com
Over the weekend which has information all of Wales’ golf courses,
suggested itineraries, golf packages, accommodation and things to do and see
away from the course and links to seniorsopengolf.com to enable visitors to
purchase tickets to The Senior Open Championship.
Golf tourism is a key sector for
specific marketing initiatives organised by Visit Wales which reflects
the Welsh Government’s priority to capitalize on the hosting of The
Senior Open Championship 2014 when world stars such as Tom Watson, Miguel Angel
Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Freddie Couples and Bernhard Langer are
expected to join Wales’ own Ian Woosnam on the world renowned Royal
Porthcawl links from 24-27 July.
Visit Wales’ marketing
work will invest £300,000 in 2014 to target consumers, tour operators and
media with the proposition that Golf in Wales is golf as it should
be.
In partnership with the European
Tour, Visit Wales will be exhibiting at eight golf tournaments in 2014 - in the
UK, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands and at The 2014 Ryder Cup in
Scotland.
Links
Wales
golf tourism monitor