THE President of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), Peter Walton, said in Palma this week that Majorca has enough golf courses with the 23 which are currently in operation.
Walton was addressing the Golf Tour Operators convention at the Hotel Son Vida and made it clear that no new courses were required in the short term. He said however that it is important that the quality of golf offered on the island is promoted at a more European-wide level. There are all sorts of advantages, claimed Walton in being a leader in this particular field.
Walton, who addressed an audience that included the Balearic Minister for Tourism, Miquel Nadal added: Majorca is behind the Algarve and the Costa del Sol in terms of golfing tourism - it could do with improving this third position. He said that the island was perfect for the sport of golf in terms of climate, good hotel accommodation and accessibility with other parts of Europe.
Walton said that increasing the number of courses available would depend on the popularity of the ones which were already in existence. But he felt confident that for at least the next two years, his industry would not be requiring any new ones on Majorca. Responding to Walton's address, Nadal said that in his Tourism Marketing Plan golfing holidays remained as one of the pillars of the regional tourist industry. He said that although the Balearics is currently the third favourite destination for the sport in Europe it has the opportunity to take the number one spot. Further promotion would definitely be on the agenda.