A growing trend in tourism-Golf

Golf has long since stopped being just a sport and has evolved into one of the most welcomed types of tourism. Turkey's investment into golf tourism, which is a recent arrival here, ensures early catchup.

Around the world as in Turkey golf is known as a sport for hte wealthy and also as an important type of tourism because it attracts prosperous tourists (tourists that add value). While an ordinary tourist spends 140 Euro in a week, a golf tourist spends on average 200 Euro in just one day. It is this added value that makes golf tourism grow so fast globally and also what makes it one the favoured areas of Turkish tourism. Belek is becoming Turkey's golf region, and in 2006 it attracted 209 thousands golf tourists. In 2007 this increased by 50 percent, reaching 300 thousand tourists. There are, according to the European Golf Association (EGA), 31 thousand golf courses in the world. 60 percent of these are located in North America. In Europe the number of cources comes to 6 thousand and there are 6.5 million golfers. The European golf market generates 2 billion dollars. Still considered at the early stages of this development, Turkey has only got 12 golf facilities. The golf courses in Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara yield approximately 6 million dollars annualy. Turkey's competitors in the tourism sector, Spain and Portugal, earn 250 million dollars.

Turkey's Golf Headquarters: Belek

As golf develops in Turkey, Belek's name comes to the fore. The resorts located in this lovely district of Antalya can even in the so-called dead season, the winter season, boast occupancy of 70 percent. Utilisation spread over nearly all twelve months of the year encourages new investments. With the new courses that are open in Belek there wil be altogether 10 golf facilities. Besides Belek, there are plans to establish new golf courses in the popular tourism centres of Bodrum and Çeşme. Antalya advances speedly towards becoming one of the world's primary golf destinations. Especially golfers from Northern European countries choose Belek.The word is that the quality of Antalya'courses is superior to that of rival countries like Dubai,Spain and Portugal. Tukey, which in the question of climate has a great adventage over its competitors, is very confident about coming out in front in this contest it joined at such a late stage. The world-renowned golfer, Nick Faldo agrees that the courses in Turkey are of a standard that could reach international fame. Faldo also points out that besides attracting international tournaments to Turkey, intorducing direct flights from places like London and Paris would help increase the number golf tourists.

Golf for diplomats

Golf is noted as a sport that attracts senior managers, businessmen, and politicians. There is alot of work for Turkey to do in this field that has begun to assert itself in recent years. The mild climate in the southern regions allows for golf to be played in winter providing Turkey with a great advantage. The investments that have already been made attract tourists from Europe, especially from the UK, Holland and Belgium. A survey carried out by the tourist sector in Turkey shows that the approximately 800 diplomats working at the embassies in Ankara are golf players. An aim to address this potential brought about the decision to establish golf courses in the capital city. This project which is being developed for Akara will be carried out pending authorisation by the Ministry of Forests.

Busiest in March, April and November

In Belek's golf facilities 1 million 390 thousand and 815 games were played 1995-2006. Tourists mainly come to Belek for golf in March, April and November. This is chiefly due to the weather being cooler compared with the summer months. Golf's larger share in Turkey's tourism industry also traced a propitius graph in 2007. The first three months showed a marked increase in the number of games played compared to previous years. President of the Turkish Golf Federation Ahmet Ağaoğlu says that golf tourists have grown by aproximately 50 percent in Belek in 2007. Ağaoğlu draws attention to the fact that more golf courses in the area will substantially increase Turkey's share in the world's golf tourism, "From 2008 we shall have 21 18-hole courses. This figure is of the utmost importance if a region is to become a golf destination. Turkey started golf very late, but we are progressing very fast." he says.

The aim is 100 golf courses by 2010

The golf Federation, which is working for the promotion of golf tourism and the sport in Turkey, aims at 100 golf courses by the year of 2010. According to the project 2 golf courses are planned for Şanlıurfa, 1 for Gaziantep and 12 for the Adana-Mersin-Tarsus region in Southeast Anatolia. In teh regions in question land appropriation is taking place to the tune of a bed capacity of 9.550 at the first stage, later to be increased to up to 40 thousand beds. The project also includes the building of 20 golf courses in Istanbul and 10 in Datça, Side-Manavgat. Apart from the coastal regions, favourable conditions for building golf courses have also been found in inland cities like Ankara, Eskişehir, Bursa and Kayseri. The Federation has organised the Turkish Open for the past seven years with the intention of promoting golf tourism. Turkey will play host to the European Champion Clubs Cup (2008-2010) in which 50 countries take part, and the European Young Teams Championship (2009-2011) with the participation of 26 countries. Application for making Turkey the venue for the World Amateur Golf Championships in 2012 has been made.

by Rüya Can