Golf Tourism in India: An untapped space

Sun, sand and the blue sky promise to make a great setting for golf. Unlike many other sports, golf is individual-driven and doesn’t need team to play or enjoy. Instead, it a great travelling sport that permits people to explore new courses around the world. Getting links to connect with heritage, food trails or popular beachfront destinations can truly transform the government’s niche tourism approach in general and golf tourism in particular. Joint secretary Suman Billa says that the government is taking up golf tourism very seriously “given the number of scenic and beautiful golf courses we have in India”.

The revenue potential is high and the evidence is in the surge of golf tourism in Thailand, Indonesia and even Taiwan. China itself has only a short history of 28 years in the sport but has built solid infrastructure very quickly and also hosted some of the best global events to attract attention. I know of at least 5 CEO groups who have visited Mission Hills and other cluster of golf courses to play. Mauritius is another country putting the spotlight on golf to its tourism offerings in a big way. Not long ago I travelled to SriLanka where several tourism companies offered me to play golf with some of the country’s best cricketers. This would be a wonderful way of connecting many iconic stars that love to play golf. India’s top cricketers today are making golf their second sport as well.

Additionally there’s also the interest in merging spiritual holidays with golf. After all, golf is a sport played in the six inch space between our ears – our mind. The possibilities are infinite. 52% of travelling golfers are likely to take two or more golfing holidays in a year and they spend on an average, 33% more on their holidays as compared to regular holiday makers.

Asia is home to the most new golf projects in the world with 207 courses under development according to Randa’s official golf report for 2015. Of Asia’s 53 golfing countries, 27 have at least one new project in development. India has over 40 courses under construction as well. We already have some great locations to enjoy the sport. Such as teeing off with glimpse of the Taj Mahal at various points on one of Agra’s nine-hole courses. Or playing the Rambagh golf course. Some of these and other properties are bound to spruce up if sport marries tourism seamlessly. As more and more properties get ready, there will be tremendous and new interest in putting these up for access.