Cape Garden Route Walks Away With Top International Golf Award
23 November 2006
SOUTH AFRICA’S Cape Garden Route has been named the 2006 Golf Destination of the
Year for Africa and the Middle East on Thursday, 23 November 2006, at the International
Golf Travel Market held at Marbella, Spain.
The award is made annually by IAGTO, the Global Trade Organisation for the Golf
Tourism Industry and is a milestone for golf tourism in the Garden Route and Western
Cape province. IAGTO's membership comprises more than 900 accredited golf tour operators,
golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, operators, airlines and tourist boards in 72
countries worldwide.
The Cape Garden Route walked away with the grand prize, beating top destinations
like Dubai and Mauritius amongst others, after more than 200 golf tour operators
in 38 countries worldwide cast their vote based on the quality of golf courses and
accommodation, customer service, professional conduct of suppliers, support from
the local tourism authority, value for money and accessibility of tee-off times.
The Cape Garden Route is home to the world famous Fancourt Hotel & Country Estate
where the Presidents Cup was hosted in November 2003, Goose Valley, designed by
the Gary Player Group, and Pezula Golf Club, situated on one of the most magnificent
locations in South Africa. It also has five other 18-hole and eight 9-hole golf
courses, and a driving range.
Dave Frandsen, Executive Manager: Marketing of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, the official
tourism destination marketing organisation for Cape Town and the Western Cape where
the Garden Route is situated, says: “The scenic settings and wealth of golfing facilities
available in the Garden Route and Western Cape enables the province to offer visitors
an unparalleled golfing experience. This award will lend weight to our efforts to
market our spectacular golf tourism experience globally.”
The Western Cape has a wide range of golf courses ranging from quality local clubs
in most towns and cities across the province to international standard golf and
leisure resorts situated in Cape Town, the Winelands, Overberg and the Garden Route.
The province’s breathtaking scenery and landscapes often provide spectacular backdrops
to visitors enjoying a Western Cape golfing holiday. An excellent internal network
of roads, internal and regional flight connections, and international flight connections
make the Western Cape a hugely successful golf destination. Almost all the Western
Cape’s golf courses provide value-for-money caddies with excellent local knowledge
of playing conditions.
Frandsen notes: “Research shows that there are around 57 million golfers worldwide
– one percent of the world’s population – who have access to 31 000 golf courses.
This means that firstly, a huge market is available to destinations that have the
right offering. It also means that golfers can afford to be selective.
“The Western Cape’s established golfing
culture and mild, temperate climate offers a unique, year-round experience with
a proven capability to confidently host major events. Add to this our renowned reputation
for hospitality and service and you have the components for a truly world-class
golfing destination.”
ENDS
23rd November 2006
Contacts
Linda Chonco
Tel: +27 82 334 3354
Website: www.tourismcapetown.co.za
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