The annual KPMG Golf Business Forum, the leading golf business platform of its type in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), will be held in Abu Dhabi 26 – 28 April next year.
The latest boost to the emirate’s burgeoning golf tourism segment is the result of a joint-bid by Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and Golf in Abu Dhabi – specialist entities conceived and managed by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) to increase the emirate’s penetration of the international business and golf tourism sectors.
The 11th KPMG Golf Business Forum will bring more than 250 developers, investors and professionals from the global golf business industry to Abu Dhabi for two days of conferences, debates and presentations. Travel packages for delegates from more than 40 countries will encompass flight options with Etihad Airways, the UAE’s award-winning national carrier, hotel stays at the five-star The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa and rounds of golf at two of the emirate’s championship-ready courses, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
“The case for taking the KPMG Golf Business Forum to Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s emerging golf and business destinations, was compelling,” said Andrea Sartori, Partner, KPMG. “The emirate’s golf tourism industry has made impressive strides in recent times and its world-class courses, hotels, leisure attractions and renowned hospitality should make next year’s Forum one of the most eagerly anticipated events to date.”
After previous outings in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Ireland, Wales, Turkey and Italy, Abu Dhabi follows St. Andrews Links in Scotland – the home of the golf – as the KPMG Golf Business Forum host.
“The magnitude of succeeding the game’s ancestral home is not lost on us,” said Chris Card, Group General Manager at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. “KPMG’s selection of Abu Dhabi underlines the progress the emirate has made with its golf tourism strategy and its position as a preferred destination in the global golf tourism market.”
News of Abu Dhabi’s selection as next year’s KPMG Golf Business Forum host follows hot-on-the-heels of the UAE capital’s trio of world-class, championship-ready golf courses posting 89% year-on-year growth in the number of overseas rounds played between January and March.
“Our collective Golf in Abu Dhabi initiative has aligned the emirate’s golf industry stakeholders’ focus and has positioned the emirate in the minds of potential leisure golfers from primary source markets such as the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, China, Korea and Japan. Our aim with the KPMG Golf Business Forum is extending the emirate’s appeal to entice a greater proportion of the international corporate golf travel market to share our destination’s world-class offering,” added Card.
For further information on Golf in Abu Dhabi and explore a variety of attractive packages visit www.golfinabudhabi.com