Catalonia cemented its status as one of Europe’s most exciting emerging golf destinations by playing host to one of the world’s most successful golf tourism events.
The International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) attracted more than 1400 delegates to the PortAventura Convention Centre in Costa Daurada last month, the largest ever turnout in the event’s 16-year history.
Catalonia staged the event as part of its campaign celebrating 100 Years of Great Golf which was devised by the Catalan Tourist Board (CTB) to promote the country as a leading golf destination.
With delegates attending IGTM from all over the world and experiencing the golf and leisure offering of Costa Daurada as well as sampling the local cuisine, culture and nightlife, the event proved hugely successful.
Xavier Espasa Añoveros, General Manager of the Catalan Tourist Board, said, “We are delighted to have hosted such a successful IGTM. It gave us a tremendous platform to promote Catalonia as a truly exciting golf destination. Our aim was to ensure that the many representatives of the golf industry from all over the world who attended the event went away with wonderful impressions of what Catalonia has to offer and that has been achieved.
“Our next objective is to build on this success and use next year’s centenary of the first golf course opening in Catalonia to highlight our pedigree as one of the world’s finest golfing destinations.”
Peter Walton, the Chief Executive of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO, said, “We would like to congratulate Catalonia on hosting a truly fantastic IGTM. We are fortunate to visit many of the world’s best golf destinations but it is always exciting to go to emerging golf destinations. Catalonia certainly fits into that category. It has some world class courses, hotels and restaurants alongside the rich culture of cities such as Barcelona and Girona. I know our delegates were as impressed as we were with the warm Catalan welcome they received.”
IGTM brings together hundreds of tour operators and key influencers from throughout the international golf travel industry. CTB representatives held 25 formal meetings with companies from 11 different countries throughout the week and many more informal discussions. The agency is confident this will generate business worth hundreds of thousands of euros next year for Catalan golf venues and accommodation providers.
The 100 Years of Great Golf Campaign will continue in 2014 and will utilise a suite of online and print marketing materials to highlight key messages about the quality and range of golf courses and facilities available in Catalonia.
For more information about golf in Catalonia visit www.catalunya.com.
International Golf Travel Market www.igtm.co.uk