Golfers play at the Tan Son Nhat golf course, where the HCM City Golf Tourism Festival opened on March 29. (Photo: VNS/VNA)The three-day event organised by the city’s Department of Tourismand the Vietnam Golf Tourism Association features an exhibition ongolf tourism products and services and a conference on promoting and trainingfor golf tourism.
The Golf Club Championship held along with the festival beganon March 29 with nearly 1,000 players taking part.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Directorof the Tourism Department, said the event was the first step in the developmentof golf tourism.
Last month, the city had launched a golf-related tourismproduct as part of efforts to diversify and improve the competitiveness ofits tourism industry.
Trinh Thanh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Golf TourismAssociation, said Vietnam has huge potential to develop golf tourism, which hasbeen identified as a major product.
The weather in Vietnam is conducive to playing golf almost allyear round, he said.
Many people travel to Vietnam from Europe, Japan and the Republic ofKorea to play when the weather in their countries is unfavorable for outdoorsports, he said.
The cost of playing in Vietnam is cheaper than in other countriesand people are satisfied with the beautiful golf courses it offers along itscoastline and abutting luxury resorts.
Golf holiday packages and tours offer travellers the best coursesalong with exploration of the country’s beauty, culture and history and atpromotional costs, he added.
Around 100,000 Vietnamese and foreigners living in Vietnam playthe sport, according to the Vietnam Golf Tourism Association.
There are 100 golf courses in the country, including 32 on the seathat meet international standards.
Vietnam was named the World’s Best Golf Destination in 2019 and2021 in the World Golf Awards, surpassing many others such as the US, NewZealand, China, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea./.
VNA
