The latest golf tourism monitor results from Tourism NI reveal that the value of golf tourism in Northern Ireland in 2017 reached almost £40 million per year.
This represented a growth of 12% on 2016, with key golf markets visiting Northern Ireland including North America, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland, the Nordics and Germany.
More than 120,000 golfers visited Northern Ireland in 2017, spending over £2,000 on average per trip. The research revealed that 60% of golf visitors like to include a visit to a tourist attraction when off-course and demonstrated that for every £1 spent on green fees in Northern Ireland, a minimum of £4 is spent elsewhere in the economy.
Tourism NI commissioned an annual golf tourism monitor in 2013 to gather data on the volume and value of visiting golfers to courses in Northern Ireland and gain key insights into the potential of the golf tourism market.
Tourism NI golf marketing manager Leanne Rice commented, "The latest golf monitor figures are very encouraging as they demonstrate strong growth for the Northern Ireland golf tourism market, with a 12% increase in 2017, particularly good news at a time when it is decreasing in established markets.
"Tourism NI’s vision for golf tourism is to grow its value from the current estimate of almost £40 million to £50 million per year by 2020 and, in doing so, remind golfers worldwide that ‘Northern Ireland is where golf champions are born and play’.
"The importance of golf tourism lies in attracting high spending visitors and dispersing their spending power throughout the visitor economy. At present, our Golf Tourism Strategy is in place which provides a cohesive rationale and call to action to do just that."
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
