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GOLF IN VIETNAM
as Asia’s hottest golf tourism destina-
tion. Three of these golf courses have
formed the alliance Golf Coast Vietnam
to promote the Central Coast as the
next hotspot for golf tourism.
“Golf Coast Vietnam represents the
ideal spot for golf holidaymakers as
there are now three and soon there will
be four world-class golf courses, nu-
merous excellent five-star resorts, some
of the world’s best beaches, and the
idyllic holiday town of Hoi An nearby.
Taken all together, these are the vital
elements to make a successful golf des-
tination,” says Siegel.
Jon Tomlinson, general director of
Montgomerie Links, says golf tourism is
being actively promoted on the Central
Coast and the Golf Coast Vietnam brand
is creating some excellent exposure,
with golfers able to visit one website
to learn about the golf on offer and
contact any number of golf tour opera-
tors, hotels or the golf courses who are
all able to build a unique golf itinerary.
“All Central Coast hotels, and in
particular members of the Central Coast
Vietnam brand, provide golf and ac-
commodation packages for all market
segments with the vast majority taking
a specific interest in learning the game
by sending their staff to these golf
courses to gain familiarity and experi-
ence with golf to better communicate
with their guests,” says Tomlinson.
At Montgomerie Links, many na-
tionalities are playing, with the prima-
ry Asian markets being South Korea,
China, Japan and Singapore. In terms
of long haul markets, the biggest are
those of Australia and Europe. A strong
increase from the UK and US markets
has been seen over the last 12 months.
Vietnam’s golf tourism received a
major boost when the country was
named golf destination of the year
for Asia and Australasia by the Inter-
national Association of Golf Tour Op-
erators during the International Golf
Travel Market trade show held in Por-
tugal last November.
Golfasian describes Vietnam as the
next Thailand in terms golf tourism. “Vi-
etnam possesses much greater land di-
versity than Thailand and once a critical
mass of golf courses in specific tourist
centers get established, the popularity
of golf tourism will take off,” says Siegel.
Currently, Vietnam has over 30
courses in operation, but the number
is set to triple as developers have pro-
posed a total of 115 courses, of which
90 have been approved and are slated
to complete by 2020.
For Siegel, the quality of the golf
in the Central Coast is as good, if not
better than other destinations in Thai-
land: “As new golf courses become
established the interest will grow and
match that in other places like Pattaya
and Phuket.”
As new golf courses become
established the interest will
grow and match that
in other places like Pattaya
and Phuket
MARK SIEGEL
Managing director, Golfasian
The spa and golf industries are
both growing in Vietnam