India Tourism: Fore! on the golf course

Mr.-Venkatesan-Dhattareyan-Deputy-Director-General-at-Incredible-India-Ministry-of-Tourism-India
Mr.-Venkatesan-Dhattareyan-Deputy-Director-General-at-Incredible-India-Ministry-of-Tourism-India
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Written by Linda Hohnholz

During a presentation by the Ministry of Tourism at the Indian golf & Turf Expo (IGTE), Mr. Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Deputy Director General at Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, India, greatly emphasized his confidence on golf becoming one of the growth engines for Indian Tourism.

The first day of 8th IGTE, a South Asian golf industry trade show, concluded with a heavy emphasis on promoting and earning heavy revenue through golf tourism in India.

Supporting the cause, Rishi Narayan, former Asian Games Gold medalist, also stated, โ€œThe Golf Industry Association has set a target to generate revenue of INR 100 crs in the next 5 years through golf tourism.โ€

To further strengthen the GIAโ€™s vision to position India as one of the favorite destinations for golf tourism, eminent delegates from the international golf fraternity shared their expert insights. โ€œThe growth of golf courses with a sustainable ecosystem cannot happen without economic viability of golf courses, and it cannot be achieved without developing golf tourism,โ€ said Peter Walton, President & Chief Executive, IAGTO, during his session on โ€œDeveloping an integrated golf tourism strategy for India to maximize inbound golf travel.โ€ Mike Orloff, Managing Director, Golf Industry Central (Australia), shared his views on โ€œHow golfing clubs can improve the total tourist experienceโ€ while suggesting the introduction of an annual golf festival supported by Incredible India.

The IGTE 2019 also features a unique art exhibition by wildlife and nature contemporary artist Gita Bhattacharjee where she features her unique art collection on golf and golf courses.

The 8th India Golf & Turf Expo also features leading global and domestic brands like Toro, Rainbird, Club Car, Yamaha Agri ,and +91 Golf (an Indian golf ball manufacturer) who are showcasing their latest technology and machinery at the show.

Other key golf industry bodies who are participating at IGE 2019 include the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Womenโ€™s Golf Association of India (WGAI), and the Golf Course Superintendents and Managers Association of India (GCSMAI).

Promoted by the Golf Industry Association and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Incredible India, the 8th India Golf & Turf Expo is a two-day conference which brings national and international golf bodies and around 60 golf clubs onto one platform to exchange ideas and chalk out the future path for growing the game in India. The show addresses various facets of golf and how it can contribute to the countryโ€™s economy. Golf tourism is a multi-billion-dollar global business, adding value to real-estate projects, high-quality lifestyle development to attract international businesses, attracting investments in smart cities, enhancing air quality and environment, replenishing the water table through rain-water harvesting, usage of treated sewage water, and of course improvement of health for those who play the game.

The second day of the IGTE 2019 will feature a discussion on plausible business models for golf-related real estate development and how to attract and retain new talent in the golf industry.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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