Golf Tourism England (GTE) – the national membership body representing England’s golf visitor economy – is backing North East England to claim a greater share of the UK’s inbound golf tourism market as overseas demand drives green fee prices up in Ireland and Scotland.
Speaking at the sixth annual Golf Tourism England Convention – held at Matfen Hall Country Hotel, Spa and Golf Estate in Northumberland – chief executive Andrew Cooke championed the region’s golf venues and accommodation providers to international and domestic golf tour operators.
“The golf tourism industry is looking for credible and affordable alternatives for tourists wishing to play the best golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. Domestic golfers are now being priced out by rising green fee prices fuelled by demand from overseas, principally from the US market, and it’s time that England stepped forward to assert itself and compete more aggressively with Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In North East England, you can play three GB&I Top 100 links courses, stay in five-star golf resorts and sporting estates, experience the vibrant cities of Newcastle and Durham, and explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s time that North East England stepped out of Scotland’s shadow,” said Andrew.
The UK golf tourism market is poised for sustained growth, with research showing that by 2035 inbound golf tourism will be worth more than £5.2 billion to the economy.*
The convention was attended by travel bookers specialising in UK and international markets, including representatives from Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the USA, as well as regional hospitality businesses, golf venues and visitor attractions.
A group of tour operators spent several days in Northumberland before the convention, playing rounds at The Northumberland, Dunstanburgh Castle and Goswick, visiting Alnwick Castle and Garden, and staying at the newly opened Bailiffgate Hotel in Alnwick.
Andrew Hastie, owner and managing director of Authentic Golf – a golf travel agency serving the Dutch market – said: “My impressions of Northumberland are fantastic. It’s a beautiful area with some wonderfully interesting golf courses.”
Stuart Imeson, co-owner and course manager at Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club, said: “The whole Northumberland coastline, from Goswick to Bamburgh, down to Alnmouth and Foxton Hall, there are some great golf tours to put together and it was a pleasure to welcome a group from the Golf Tourism England convention to experience our 128-year-old links course.”
The GTE convention was sponsored by Discover South Carolina (Headline sponsor), Destination North East England (Host sponsor), Visit Tees Valley (co-host sponsor), and Visit Morocco (guest destination sponsor).
Alex MacKenzie, travel trade manager at Destination North East England, said: “With demand for golf trips both domestically and internationally at an all-time high, the North East is well placed to cater for this demand. Our location, on the doorstep of Scotland, means groups looking for excellent facilities while still being affordable will find what they need here. It has been fantastic working with Golf Tourism England to bring their convention to Matfen Hall, one of our biggest golfing assets, and the connections we have made at the event will allow us to grow in this market.”
*Statistics from Future Market Insights report into UK Golf Tourism Market – www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/united-kingdom-golf-tourism-market
