British Columbia Selected as 2007 Golf Destination of the Year
23 November 2006
The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) has selected British
Columbia as the “2007 Golf Destination of the Year” for North America at the IAGTO
Awards, held as a part of the 9th annual International Golf Travel Market in Marbella,
Spain. This evening’s awards ceremony will be attended by major golf tour operators
and golf travel media from around the world.
Votes for these awards were cast by IAGTO’s 260 golf tour operators from 40 different
countries. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be the best
performing golf destinations this year according to their clients. A winner was
named in five regional categories: North America; Latin America and Caribbean; Europe;
Africa and Gulf States and Asia and Australasia. Criteria for the Award included:
customer satisfaction, quality of golf courses and accommodation, value for money,
professional conduct of suppliers, support from the local tourism industry and accessibility
to tee times. Among the sixteen other destinations nominated for the North American
award were Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Palm Springs and South Carolina.
“Receiving the prestigious title of North America’s Golf Destination of the Year,
is yet another example of why British Columbia truly is the Best Place on Earth,”
said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. “British Columbia was
fortunate to be awarded the recent IAGTO Super Familiarization tour, hosted by Tourism
British Columbia in June. This was an important showcase of the many spectacular
golf experiences available in British Columbia to forty operators from ten countries.”
Minister Hagen added, “By promoting golf travel, visitors can enjoy not only the
many great golf courses and resorts around the province, but experience the many
other world class activities British Columbia has to offer as well.”
“It is only three years since British Columbia won IAGTO’s Undiscovered Golf Destination
of the Year Award,” said IAGTO CEO Peter Walton. “The progress Canada’s foremost
golfing province has made in this time is tremendous, culminating in one of IAGTO’s
most successful Super Fams this year. Not only have our operator members voted British
Columbia as North America’s Golf Destination of the Year, more operators than ever
before are now promoting and selling the region to their valuable clients.”
Mexico, Lisbon Golf Coast, South Africa’s Garden Route and China will also be recognized.
IAGTO was established in 1997 and is the global trade association of the golf tourism
industry. Members include golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses,
receptive operators, airlines and tourist boards in more than 70 countries worldwide.
One of IAGTO’s most important roles is to encourage private and public sector organizations
to work together in the development and promotion of new and existing golf destinations,
making them accessible to the widest range of golfers.
Tourism British Columbia is a Crown corporation that
operates under an industry-led board of directors and is responsible for marketing
Super, Natural British Columbia to the world. For travel information please call
1-800-HelloBC or visit www.HelloBC.com.
For highlights on golf in British Columbia, please visit www.HelloBC.com/golf.
ENDS
23rd November 2006
Contacts
Ray LeBlond – Director, Corporate Communications
Tourism British Columbia
Tel +1 604 660 3233
Email: ray.leblond@tourismbc.com
Web: www.tourismbc.com
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