IAGTO, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, has announced that its three global conventions in 2025 – the 11th Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Danang, the 3rd IAGTO European Convention (IEC) in Gran Canaria and the 16th North America Golf Tourism Convention (NAC) in Birmingham, Alabama – are now sold out, having attracted approximately 650 golf resorts, golf courses, hotels, inbound operators and tourism boards as exhibitors.
IAGTO is still taking registrations for buyers (golf tour operators) for the IEC and NAC events, and the capacity for both has been increased in order to accommodate even more hosted buyers. AGTC 2025 in Danang, Vietnam concluded on 5 April and attracted a record 450 delegates, 100 more than any of the previous 10 editions.
Peter Walton, IAGTO chief executive, said: “We had to turn away golf tourism suppliers in the last couple of weeks for AGTC and IEC has been fully booked since January although it does not take place until May, and we have just closed sales for our NAC event in June. Our mantra has been to keep our global golf tourism sales conventions affordable, productive and enjoyable, which is why they have become so popular. For our two remaining events this year in Gran Canaria and Alabama we are still signing up golf tour operators from every outbound market. Buyers must first qualify for IAGTO membership and be in compliance with the trading regulations required in the country where they are registered.”
At AGTC in Danang, 160 suppliers had more than 4,500 meetings with 162 buyers from 33 countries from the following markets:
- 54% – Asia
- 26% – Europe
- 11% – Australia and New Zealand
- 7% – USA and Canada
- 2% – Rest of the World
During the business sessions, 33% of meetings took place between golf tour operators and Vietnamese golf tourism suppliers.
Walton added: “We brought AGTC to Danang first back in 2017, when there were just four courses within an hour’s drive of the city. We stated at the time that we anticipated that the success of the 2017 event would generate interest and sales that would support the development and sustainable success of more golf courses. We return to Danang eight years later to a destination with seven fantastic golf courses within that same 60-minute radius. Our expectation is that AGTC this year will create at least 5000 additional bookings generating over $8 million incremental revenue.”
Speaking at the AGTC press conference, Tan Van Vuong, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, said: “Developing golf tourism and leveraging golf tournaments in major international events is a key pillar in Danang’s high-quality tourism development strategy. Following the success of AGTC 2017, hosting AGTC 2025 further strengthens Da Nang’s position on the global golf tourism map.”
For more information see iagto.com
Image: the 2025 Asia Golf Tourism Convention in Danang (Credit: Peter Ellegard/IAGTO)