Bangkok (March 29): Thailand is well on its way to becoming the undisputed “Golfing Hub Of Asia”. Two brand new golf business events, the 2010 Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition (SEAIGME) and the Inaugural PGA Conference of Asia have been total sell-outs.
Both events are scheduled to be held at the end of April and with just weeks to go before show-time, exhibition space at SEAIGME has been fully booked. “This is testimony to Bangkok’s draw as a major golfing hub in the region and this overwhelming response will spur the rapid growth of this event in the years to come,” declared Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences (APGDC), the owner and producer of both the events.
SEAIGME will open at the Bangkok International Convention Centre at CentralWorld on April 30 and will be open to the public until May 2. “We expect a turnout of some 20,000 visitors to the show and visitors will be able to check out a full range of new golf equipment and accessories for the 2010 season,” said Sebastian.
“We have marketed SEAIGME worldwide and we expect a good turn-out of consumers from the region to attend this show which we are going to build and grow into the top golf equipment event in the region,” pointed out Georgina Wong, executive director of APGDC. SEAIGME is being co-promoted by the Japan Golf Fair.
Running in conjunction with SEAIGME is the Inaugural PGA Conference of Asia. This is a brand new event which will be staged over two days, starting on April 30. “We planned for 300 golf teaching professionals to register for this conference but the sign up rate has just blown way past the 350 mark and there is every indication that the total will exceed 400 delegates,” exclaimed Sebastian
“This has far exceeded our expectations and it augurs well for the future,” pointed out Wong. “We have over 20 world class teaching professionals lined up as speakers including a special presentation by the legendary Hank Haney,” revealed Sebastian.
The PGA Conference of Asia will also witness the official launch of the PGA of Asia – a body that is urgently required to ensure that the teaching of the game of golf keeps pace with the growth of golf in Asia. According to the president and chief executive officer of the PGA of Asia, Tony Meechai, “This organizsation will lead the thrust towards providing a comprehensive and sustainable training and education programme that will come complete with international accreditation certification.”
The PGA of Asia is being launched with a membership roll of 500 founding members – all active teaching professionals in Asia. “We are really delighted with this development as it is long overdue in Asia,” pointed out Meechai.
Both the SEAIGME and PGA Conference of Asia will be staged at the Bangkok International Convention Centre located at the plush Centara Grand Hotel. Both the events are fully supported by the Thailand PGA and the Sports Authority of Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
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