Golf tour organisation sets sights on Siem Reap

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008121123163/Siem-Reap-Insider/Golf-tour-organisation-sets-sights-on-Siem-Reap.html

Golf tour organisation sets sights on Siem Reap
Written by Peter Olszewski
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Siem Reap

CAMBODIA in general, and Siem Reap in particular, is about to receive
a huge boost in support for its nascent golf tourism industry from the
International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) , which has
1,140 member companies, including 330 golf tour operators, in 77
countries.

The organisation's members control 80 percent of the global golf
holiday market outside the intra-Asia circuit, and the mission of its
president, Peter Walton, is now to boost Asian golf tourism.

"I've just been to Hong Kong for the Asia Pacific Golf Development
Summit, where I spoke and said that we are strong everywhere in the
world except Asia. Now we will now concentrate on our Asian chapter,"
Walton told the Post after playing golf in Siem Reap.

Walton said his development plans for the Asian circuit will culminate
in a "big event" that he will organise for February-March 2010 to
attract 200-plus golf tour operators from all over the world and
introduce them to the attractions Asia has to offer in this market.

Siem Reap stands to figure prominently in his plans.

"I most likely will stage the event in one of Asia's capital cities,
but I'm sure we will bring a number the tour operators here, in either
a pre- or post-event trip," he said.

Walton included Siem Reap in his first major tour of discovery of the
region and was impressed by what he discovered.

"Firstly, there is the obvious side attraction of the temples for golf
tourists, but the big surprise for me was just how accessible Siem
Reap is for the Western market," he said.

Another plus is that Siem Reap already has two international-standard
18-hole golf courses - the Sofitel Hotel-managed Phokeethra Country
Club golf course, where the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open tournament
tees off today, and the classy Nick Faldo-designed Angkor Golf Resort
- with a third, KTC Leisure Co Ltd's Siem Reap Lake Resort Golf Club,
due to have its soft opening this month.

"I've just come from the Angkor Golf Resort, which is a terrific golf
course and will certainly help make Siem Reap a golf destination,"
Walton said.

Variety reaps benefits
Siem Reap is also gaining an edge because golf tourists like locations
where there are several golf courses within a 45-minute range of major
hotels.

Walton said, "With most destinations, if you have just one golf course
you can attract only 15 percent of golfers coming to that region.

"If you have two you can attract 25 percent, but if you have three
then you leap to 75 percent."

Walton also predicted that golf tourism in Siem Reap will dip but hold
up during the economic meltdown and bounce back late next year.

"After 9/11 the downturn only affected golf tourism only half as much
as other tourism sectors," he said.

"Golfers won't be denied their annual golf fix unless they really
don't have any money to spend. With oil prices at a two-year low,
travel will be cheaper, and interest rates are at rock bottom so those
people still in work will have more disposable income."
.

Relevant Pages