Reed Travel Exhibitions International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), taking place in Malaga this week, is considered the ultimate in golf tourism environments and provides an ideal platform on which to grow business in these challenging times.
The event this week, which has bought the international golf tourism industry together, encourages and initiates business as well as giving attendees the opportunity to discuss and define industry trends.
This year’s event has experienced an increase in both the number of countries represented from last year and the number of exhibitors.
Mark Walsh, Reed Travel Exhibitions Group Exhibition Director commented, “IGTM 2009 is focusing on providing the best possible forum to do business during these economic times. We are welcoming increasing numbers of both repeat exhibitors and first time representation to the 2009 event from exciting emerging golf destinations.
“IGTM 2008 saw 8,000 pre-scheduled appointments conducted which is twice the amount conducted during the previous year, and we are seeing numbers dramatically increase during this year’s show, evidence that the golf industry is taking every opportunity to utilise the proactive golf business environment the exhibition provides.”
This year’s event sees representation from over 65 countries, with over 500 exhibitors including golf resorts, clubs, hotels and incoming golf agencies, including 50 new exhibitors. New countries represented include Iceland, Nepal, Bermuda, Croatia and India.
There is also strong representation from Portugal, with over 60 resorts & clubs exhibiting, including the Algarve and Lisbon Golf Coast along with a number of Spanish regions including of course AndalucÃa (the host region, with over 80 golf resorts and clubs exhibiting), Catalunya, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Valencia and Murcia. In addition, Argentina, Turkey, France, Scotland, Ireland, Morocco, USA and the United Arab Emirates also have a strong presence.
Many new exhibitors are participating at IGTM for the first time, these include the city of Rome, Legend Golf & Safari Resort (South Africa) with its world famous extreme 19th hole, California Golf, St Mellion International Resort and Brockett Hall (both in the UK) and the brand new Saadiyat Golf Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi.
International Golf Travel Market www.igtm.co.uk