The organisers of the Scottish Golf Tourism Week has announced that this year’s event will return to Fairmont St Andrews in Fife.
Having successfully staged last year’s event, as well as the inaugural edition of this unique business-to-business forum in 2016, the five-star resort on the outskirts of St Andrews will once again welcome delegates from around the world from October 28 to November 1.
Scottish Golf Tourism Week directly connects Scotland’s leading golf businesses directly with some of the world’s leading tour operators, creating more than 4,000 meetings in the process. There is also the chance for familiarisation trips across the country, giving visiting tour operators the opportunity to experience the very best that Scotland’s internationally recognised golf and hospitality sectors have to offer.
Last year’s event was attended by over 90 tour operators representing 35 different countries, and organisers are hopeful that this year’s event will eclipse that.
“We’re hugely excited to be returning to Fairmont St Andrews,” said event organiser Tom Lovering. “Scottish Golf Tourism Week is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Scottish businesses to present themselves to an international audience in the most coordinated and professional way possible.
“We identified that there was a gap in the market for an event such as this and, following a full evaluation, we were delighted to find that the 2018 event is expected to directly contribute £19.1million worth of additional business to Scotland by 2021.
With the event only looking to grow over the next few years, it stands to reason that this figure will grow considerably, too.”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, added: “Golf tourism is a vital part of Scotland’s visitor economy and I’m delighted that Scottish Golf Tourism Week has made such a positive contribution to growing this industry and bringing more people to experience what it is like to play in Scotland, the Home of Golf.
“I’m sure St Andrews will once again prove a fitting location for an event which offers a unique opportunity for a broad range of golf tourism businesses from across Scotland to engage with leading buyers from around the world, helping more businesses to internationalise and allowing tour operators to see our wonderful product first hand.”
Golf tourism contributes in excess of £286 million to the country on an annual basis with the likes of golf courses, accommodation providers, bars, restaurants, retail and tourist attractions all benefitting from the strength of Scotland’s golf tourism product.
Susan Beattie, head of tourism at Scottish Development International, remarked: “Scottish Golf Tourism Week is a major opportunity for Scottish companies to present their international offer to influential overseas tour operators. Engaging with leading buyers from over 35 countries will help Scottish businesses to increase their international visitor spend and ensure that golf continues to be a key element of Scotland’s unique appeal.”
For more information on the 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week, visit www.scottishgolftourismweek.co.uk or call 0141 353 2222.