The South African Golf Tourism Association (SAGTA) has thrown its full weight behind the fifth annual Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE), taking place from 27 to 29 October 2015, at the Protea Hotel Fire and Ice! Menlyn, in the City of Tshwane, the new host city partner.
“Currently South Africa ranks as number 14 in the world, for golfing destinations. Sports & Events Tourism Exchange can offer valuable platforms for us to improve our global position to a possible top 10, by engaging with all the major role-players within the industry during the two day event in October. Where else can you engage with sports operators, government departments, travel agents, event planners, and international buyers under one roof? And as Golf Tourism is one of the main themes for the 2015 event SAGTA just had to be part of this unique event and we gladly endorse the exchange,” says SAGTA chairperson Nomasonto Ndlovu.
South Africa has in the region of 440 golf courses and the top quality combined with unique experiences such as safari, spa, cultural tours, fine wine and gourmet not to mention coastal experiences, all at a very favourable exchange rate for inbound tourists. Where else in the world can you play golf while seeing southern right whales breaching or have to plan your next stroke around game passing the fairways?
It is with this in mind that exhibitors such as Rovos Rail Golf Tours, Oubaai Hotel Golf and Spa, The Sandton Indaba, Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate, Golf in South Africa, Sun International and PelePele Travel & Marketing, to name but a few, have already confirmed their engagement for the Sports & Events Tourism Exchange 2015.
Globally, golf holiday sales, by specialist golf tour operators have grown by more than 20% over the last two years and by an average of 11,1% in 2013, according to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ (IAGTO) 2014 golf tourism report, which surveyed 650 golf tour operators, courses, resorts and hotels to identify some of the key trends. The report also revealed that golf travel out of Europe increased by 10,1% in 2013, while out of North America there was 14,6% growth, Asia 12,8% and Australasia 22,5%.
The annual Sports and Events Tourism Exchange is the only event of its kind in Africa and provides a platform that brings together businesses from the Sports, Events & Tourism industries, and encourages collaboration between these sectors, consisting of a two-day conference, table top exhibition and networking events. International buyers from over 20 countries were hosted over the past three years resulting in estimated business-worth of over R30 million, for the South African economy.
The 2015 Sports and Events Tourism Exchange is proudly hosted by the City of Tshwane.
