Bangkok, 1 December, 2016 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Chiang Mai was voted The Next Golf Destination of the Year Asia & Australasia 2017 by 220 golf tour operators worldwide.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan (above picture, right), TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas, received the award on behalf of Thailand at the 17th annual International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards Ceremony, which was held during the annual International Golf Travel Mart 2016.
He said, “Thailand has become the number one destination in Asia for golf, and there are new, top quality courses opening all the time. Sport is now a major draw for tourists, and we are encouraging more golfers by offering second-to-none facilities, stunning scenery and amazing attractions to enjoy when the day’s games are over.”
This is the fifth year that Thailand’s golf destinations have been recognised by IAGTO. Pattaya was named Golf Destination of the Year in 2006 and 2010 with Hua Hin receiving the award in 2012 and Prachuap Khiri Khan in 2014. Destination Winners are voted by IAGTO’s members who come from over 60 countries.
At the same event, the Laguna Phuket Golf Club also won the award for the Sustainable Golf Course of the Year for the Asian region in 2017 in the community engagement category.
The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) was established in 1997 to represent the interests of golf businesses, and now comprises 2522 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts and hotel, airlines, tourist boards and business partners in 96 nations. A total of 654 of these are specialist golf tour operators in 61 countries.
The IAGTO annual awards have been running for over 16 years and represent the pinnacle of achievement for golf destinations and resorts as voted for by tour operators, golf writers and golf travellers.
