Kenya banks on golf to boost sluggish tourism
Michelle Wie of the USA during a practice round for the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Kenya is increasingly paying more attention to golf as it seeks to revive the ailing tourism sector. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- Data from its 2014 golf tourism survey reveals that golf tour operators’ holiday sales globally grew by an average of 11.1 per cent in 2013, compared to 9.3 per cent growth in 2012.
- The board’s managing director Murithi Ndegwa says it has spent about Sh40 million to promote golf in the current financial year.
Kenya is increasingly paying more attention to golf as it seeks to revive the ailing tourism sector.
The plan is informed by the fact that the daily spend of a golf tourist is almost three times that of traditional adventurer or leisure visitor.
Report by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators shows that worldwide holiday sales by golf tour operators have grown by more than 20 per cent over the past two years.
Data from its 2014 golf tourism survey reveals that golf tour operators’ holiday sales globally grew by an average of 11.1 per cent in 2013, compared to 9.3 per cent growth in 2012.
The growth rate, it is predicted, would go up this year.
These trends have not gone unnoticed by the Kenya Tourism Board, which in February this year hosted international golf travel writers to showcase the country’s key golfing destinations.
The board’s managing director Murithi Ndegwa says it has spent about Sh40 million to promote golf in the current financial year.
“Last month, we hosted golf writers from Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, China, UK and Ireland to a familiarisation trip to expose journalists to golf courses across the country,” Mr Ndegwa said.
The board is also working with the Kenya Golf Marketing Alliance, the global association of the golf tourism industry, and local tourism industry players and partners to have a golf festival later in the year.
