Tunisia endeavors to promote golf tourism
TUNISIAONLINENEWS- The Tunisian travel trade magazine « Tourism info » organized a round table on Friday in Tunis on “the Tunisian golf tourism” which aims at establishing a coherent strategy to promote golf tourism in Tunisia.
According to statistics recently released, the number of European licensed golfers is expected to reach 8 million in 2020 against only 3 million currently.
Participants in the event evoked the difficulties faced by golf tourism sector including the high cost of the implementation and management of golf courses (at least 10 million dinars for each field), the difficulty to obtain bank loans for financing such projects, lack of regular flights linking Tunisia to the issuing countries tourist golfers (England, Scandinavia ).
According to participants, 4 Tunisian golf courses out of 10, in a good condition whereas others require rehabilitation.
They stressed the importance of increasing the number of lands to reach an average of land for 10, 000 beds, improving the quality of wastewater used for irrigation of grass of golf courses, developing a strategy to promote Tunisia as a golf tourism destination and ensure air links with issuing countries of tourist golfers.
They also recommended the organization of international golf tournaments in Tunisia as well as the establishment of a twinning agreement with European and international golf clubs.
Mr. Mohamed Maali, Diretor General of the Tunisian national tourism board (ONTT) stressed that an action plan was established to rehabilitate and restructure the Tunisian golf courses. He also underlined the importance of this activity in the enrichment and diversification of the country’s tourism and the extension of the tourist season (the season of golf tourism extends from September until May).
The open sky agreement which will enter into force in November 2011 in Tunisia, will certainly contribute to the promotion of golf tourism in the country.
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