Bangkok (August 2): The Government of Thailand has embarked on an ambitious programme to develop and position the royal kingdom as “Asia’s Golf Hub”. This is a collective policy decision by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and its three agencies – namely Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
This forward-looking initiative is directed at the global golf industry with a view to making Thailand the Asian hub for golf tourism, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
Spearheading the thrust will be the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit scheduled to be staged in the Thai capital city of Bangkok from October 18-20 at the plush Bangkok International Convention Centre.
“We are delighted that such a prestigious event will help us launch our plan to make Thailand the hub of Asian golf and we are confident that the impressive line-up of international speakers at this event will show proof that Thailand is an important business centre for golf in Asia,” declared Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
A total of nine major international golf conferences and exhibitions will be staged in Thailand this year and in 2011 and these include:
1. 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit – October 18-20
2. 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Industry Show – October 18-20
3. Inaugural Golf Course Superintendents of Asia Summit – October 15-17
4. 2011 Southeast Asia/India Golf Merchandise Exposition – March 1820
5. 2011 PGA of Asia Conference – March 18-20
6. Inaugural Global Golf Tourism Forum – TBA
7. 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Summit- TBA
8. 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Industry Show – TBA
9. 2011 Golf Course Superintendents of Asia Summit – TBA
Thailand will also become the home for the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame which will be a permanent museum dedicated to the super-stars of the sport of golf and the home to the “Oscars” of the golf industry in the region – the Annual Asia-Pacific Golf Awards Programme.
“We are delighted to see all of these major international golf events being staged in Bangkok and we regard this as a very tangible materialization of everything that we have been trying to do to promote and develop Thailand as the golfing hub of Asia,” explained Mr. Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand.
The President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart said, “This initiative to establish Thailand as “Asia’s Golf Hub” will go a long way to further consolidating the nation’s leadership position in tourism – tourism plays a very vital part in the local economy and I am confident that golf will continue to grow as a very important component in this growth pattern.”
The various golf events planned for Thailand over the next 18 months are all produced by Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd (APGDC). “We are extremely pleased with the support that the government of Thailand is according to us and working in partnership with the TAT, SAT and TCEB, we are confident that all of our events in Bangkok will prove to be huge hits both in terms of content and attendance,” said Mike Sebastian, managing director of APGDC’
The President of the Thailand Golf Course Association, Mr. Pornsit Srirorathaikul said, “It is good to see that the government of Thailand is giving golf a big push – this is a move in the right direction and it will most certainly go a long way towards helping the entire golf industry grow on a healthy path.”
Mr. Pornsit is the Patron of the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
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