Inaugural U.S. Golf Tourism Survey off to a Flyer as Golf Courses, Tourist Boards Sign Up in Droves

(LONDON) — Just two months since the launch of the Brand USA-backed National Golf Tourism Survey conducted by global golf tourism organisation IAGTO, the initiative has proved a huge success with tourist boards and golf courses across the U.S. giving it their backing.

Aimed at identifying the current value of golf tourism in the US prior to the development of a strategy to boost the number of international golfers to the country, the initiative was unveiled during the 7th annual North America Golf Tourism Convention held by IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) in Palm Springs, California, in June.

Already, over 50 state tourist boards and local convention and visitor bureaus have signed up to participate and more than 200 individual golf courses have completed the golf visitor survey so far.

IAGTO Project Coordinator Guillaume Post explained: “Calculating the current value of golf tourism and assessing its capacity for growth on a regional basis are an essential first step to developing an effective golf tourism strategy. This survey and service are being conducted entirely free of charge and we would like to invite every state tourist board, regional tourism organisation and commercially-minded golf course to get on board.”

US tourist boards and golf courses can register at www.iagto.com/brandusa.

The results of the survey will be published at the 8th IAGTO North America Golf Tourism Convention (NAC), taking place at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina, from June 26-29, 2016.

Peter Walton, IAGTO’s Chief Executive, is inviting all tourist boards, however small their golf destination, along with their golf courses, hotels and DMCs to attend NAC next year. He said: “Not only will the NAC be their chance to meet with over 100 golf tour operators from 25 countries, all selling golf vacations to the US, but it will double up next year as an educational forum helping every golf destination in the US find the most effective ways to develop international golf tourism.”

Details of the NAC event at Pinehurst Resort are available at www.iagto.com/NAC.

Tourist boards and golf courses already signed up and participating in the National Golf Tourism Survey are from 20 states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, Washington State, Montana, Maine, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia and Hawaii.