Golfasian - Asian Golf Holiday Experts in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos & Myanmar
Bangkok, June 18, 2013 – As international golf tourism to South-East Asia accelerates, the region’s leading dedicated golf tour operator is gearing up for its biggest year ever. “We’re expecting double-digit growth again for the 2013/14 season,” says Golfasian founder, Mark Siegel, who is bolstering his company’s resources to meet the demand. “Inquiries for Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia are all very strong,” he reports. “Thailand and Vietnam are the destinations of choice for most visitors from Europe, Australia and within Asia itself. We’re receiving increased demand for Malaysia and Cambodia as well.” An estimated one million international golf tourists – more than half from within Asia itself – will visit South-East Asia this year, with Thailand and Vietnam expected to capture 85 percent of the traffic. Founded in 1997, Golfasian is recognized as the leading dedicated golf tour operator in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia. The company specializes in golf holiday tours for individuals and groups and has handled more than 85,000 golfers in its 15-year history. Golfasian’s management team – comprising tourism industry professionals from the US, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Vietnam and Thailand – has a wealth of experience in the golf, tourism and hospitality sectors. Sales and marketing director, Marco Scopetta, a Swiss national who was the country’s PGA champion and, later, secretary of the Swiss PGA, joined Golfasian two years ago after moving to Thailand. He names Hua Hin as his favorite golf destination. “Hua Hin combines fantastic golf courses, fabulous restaurants serving authentic local delicacies and international cuisine and a vibrant nightlife offering something for everyone,” he explains. “Black Mountain Golf Club, site of the Asian Tour’s Black Mountain Masters in 2009 and 2010 and the 2011 Royal Trophy, is one of five great courses there. Banyan Golf Club won top prestigious golf awards at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in 2010, while Springfield Royal Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1993, has long been one of Thailand’s most popular courses.” Golfasian’s overseas sales manager, Paul Tudor, was raised in Melbourne, Australia and is a former professional player with a business degree. He spent five years teaching golf in Singapore and, later, in Bangkok before joining the company earlier this year. Paul, who is responsible for developing Golfasian’s Malaysian and Indonesian business, says the two countries offer outstanding golf tourism opportunities. “Malaysia has world class golf courses, beautiful beaches, scenery and an abundance of cultural and leisure activities,” he says. “The warm, tropical year-round weather makes Malaysia a must do for any golfer visiting South-East Asia.” Malaysian native, Barry Knaggs, who heads up Golfasian’s expanding sales business in Vietnam, has been playing golf for 28 years and entered the golf tourism almost by accident through organizing tours to Vietnam for friends. He says the 700-year-old city of Danang offers wonderful cultural experiences and should be included on any golf visit to this emerging golf tourism destination. Jim Mullet, Golfasian’s international sales manager is based in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, which he names – along with nearby Chiangrai – as the best place for foreign golfers who want to experience traditional Thai culture. Jim, whose background is in business management in the US, says that like central and southern Thailand, northern Thailand has excellent courses and hotels, but feels less westernized and “more Thai”. “The pace is more leisurely, the people are some of the friendliest anywhere, traffic is seldom an issue and the value for money is unbeatable.  Northern Thailand also offers more in terms of non-golf activities, tours (both cultural and action-packed), shopping and natural scenery than other areas.  And direct air links to Chiangmai and Chiangrai keep improving both domestic and international flight options and greater frequency.” Ian Morgan, Golfasian’s manager for Phuket, Koh Samui and Hua Hin, is an ex UK golf professional who played professional golf for eight years, then spent 16 years working as a travel agent in Britain before moving to Phuket. “Living the dream is an over-used cliché, but even after coming to Phuket for more than 10 years and working here on a daily basis, I am still knocked out by the beauty of this Island,” he says. “Wherever I am in, is my office and what could be better than looking out over Red Mountain golf course on a cloudless day.” For more information about Golfasian and to make golf bookings in South-East Asia, visit www.golfasian.com ———————— For photos and more information, contact: Pascal Orczech Director of Business Development | Golfasian Co., Ltd. +66-(0)2-714-8470 | marketing(at)golfasian(dot)com | https://www.golfasian.comhttps://www.golfasian.com/
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    • The most professional golf events I have ever played in, highly recommend Mark and the crew
      Phil Smith Avatar
      Phil Smith
    • Another great trip to Vietnam (Hoi An) with Golfasian. Everything went smoothly and the golf courses were fantastic. Thank you Lisa & team!
      Hanna Heikkila Avatar
      Hanna Heikkila
    • This is our second golf holiday organised by Golfasian. First was a trip to Thailand and our latest Vietnam. We can not fault the services provided by Golfasian, from the first email enquiry to the itinerary provide. Watches could be set for the pick ups and all drivers were very friendly, standards of hotels were excellent. All courses we played in both Thailand and Vietnam were excellent and some quite challenging. We would highly recommend using Golfasian and we will definitely be using them again. Thank you for making such a stress free holiday from start to finish
      Anne Webber Avatar
      Anne Webber
    • Have used Golfasian for over 13 years and would definitely recommend them to anyone wanting to play golf.
      Sue Sutton Avatar
      Sue Sutton
    • Nach den ersten vier Tagen in Bangkok möchte ich mich schon einmal sehr bei Jim Mullet für die Organisation bedanken. Bisher hat alles perfekt geklappt! Die Abholungen fanden überpünktlich statt, vom Empfang am Flughafen, über die Hotelauswahl bis zur Tee-Time-Reservierung alles zur besten Zufriedenheit. Morgen fliegen wir weiter nach Chiang Mai. Ich bin sicher, alles wird weiterhin perfekt organisiert sein. Danke an alle Beteiligten sowie die Fahrer!
      Andreas Flöcker Avatar
      Andreas Flöcker
    • 1er séjour en Thaïlande tout était parfait hôtels golfs
      merci beaucoup
      Jean Michel Choulet Avatar
      Jean Michel Choulet
    • Everything went like clockwork, I couldnt recommend them more highly.
      Rod Harvey Avatar
      Rod Harvey
    • After numerous tournaments with Golfasian, we are very satisfied with their service, efficiency & wonderful staff..We are still planning more in the future..even now with these unknown health conditions, as we know the company will not put any of their clients/friends in a dangerous situation. See you again soon hopefully...stay safe!
      Suzan Malligan Avatar
      Suzan Malligan
    • Niki at GolfAsian Thailand put together our golf itinerary on extremely short notice and every part of the experience was efficient and smooth. From organizing the itinerary, managing payments, being picked up at the hotel by fantastic drivers (Sombat and Rocky in Hua Hin are great!), picked up after our round in a timely manner...all of it was fantastic! I recommend you email or call Golfasian directly because my first encounter with them through their online chat was absolutely awful. But I gave them a second chance and Niki came to our rescue. We couldn't be happier and will definitely use GA again!
      Therese Tee Avatar
      Therese Tee
    • Just come back from a Golfing holiday in Pattaya, incorporating the annual Ryder Cup event. Everything was great, prompt pick ups , friendly drivers. Had a problem when I picked the wrong set of clubs up from the airport, expertly sorted out by Mark and Becky in the office. Thanks again, highly recommended
      Nick Adams Avatar
      Nick Adams
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