Golfasian - Asian Golf Holiday Experts in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos & Myanmar
Bangkok, July 25 — Thailand will remain Asia’s market leader in golf tourism because other countries can’t match the kingdom’s “secret weapon” – the Thai people and especially golf course caddies – according to the largest dedicated inbound golf tourism operator in the region. Mark Siegel, whose company, Golfasian, will this year bring 6000 international golf tourists to south-east Asia, mostly to Thailand, told a group of visiting Asian golf journalists the kingdom would stay ahead of rival golf destinations because of the special way visitors are welcomed. “You can probably find countries with better golf courses, maybe with better value, nicer weather and better infrastructure, but nowhere else matches the genuine friendliness of the Thai people,” he said. “In Thailand, everyone is treated as a guest. They are considered part of the family as soon as they arrive. The people do it because they are happy, not because it’s good business. Kids in Thailand are taught to be nice.” “Visiting golfers experience genuine Thai friendship in many ways, but especially with caddies, who really have fun and are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about golf. They also like their jobs. It’s not an act. They are Thai golf’s secret weapon. Everyone who comes to Thailand to play golf is a winner.” The statistics bear out his claim. This year, 600,000 golf tourists are expected to visit Thailand, an increase of more than 15 percent over 2011, making the kingdom the world’s third most popular golf destination after Spain and the United States. This small but important and growing tourism sector is now worth $US2 billion a year in ground arrangements alone. Despite efforts by other regional destinations, including Malaysia, China and Vietnam to capitalise on Thailand’s popularity as a golf destination, none have come close. And while Europe and Australia have been major feeder markets for inbound Thai golf tourism for the past decade, more visiting foreign golfers already come from regional Asia – especially Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore – than other markets combined. As the popularity of golf increases in China and affluence grows throughout Asia, Mark Siegel says the region will remain the driving force of golf tourism to Thailand for some time to come. This was a major reason why the Tourism Authority of Thailand invited the golf writers from China, Japan and Korea – with two others from India and one from Singapore – to visit Thailand on a combined media visit designed exclusively to showcase Thai golf to Asian journalists. It was not only TAT’S first combined media visit from more than one country, but the first opportunity for most of the writers to experience Thailand’s best courses. In Bangkok, the group played at Thai Country Club near Bangkok, which for seven of the past eight years has been judged best course in Thailand, and Muang Kaew. In Hua Hin, they visited Black Mountain, which pipped Thai Country Club for top place at last year’s Asia Pacific Golf Summit, as well as Banyan Golf Club, the number three course in Thailand. In Pattaya, Siam Country Club’s Plantation course, judged best-maintained course in the kingdom, and Laem Chabang also hosted the group. All courses are members of the co-operative marketing group, Golf In A Kingdom (www.golfinakingdom.com), which includes Thailand’s best courses, as well as top hotels and resorts around the country. The editor of Golf Digest Korea, S.K. Lee, said he was delighted to see and play the top courses – and he was impressed. “The quality is excellent and is cheaper than in Korea,” he said. Indian sports writer, Vedam Jaishanker, who covered Indian cricket tours around the world for 20 years and now writes for the Mumbai-based Daily News and Analysis from his home city of Bangalore, had only previously played golf once in Thailand and said he hadn’t realised how impressive were the leading courses. “I think there is a big opportunity for Indian golfers to play in Thailand. One possible opportunity is the wedding market. Thailand has become a major destination for Indian people to get married, which gives wedding guests who come for the occasion the chance to also play golf.” Meanwhile, the editor of Singapore-based Asian Golf Monthly, Spencer Robinson, and the editors of major golf magazines in China (including Golf Wednesday and Golf Punk) and Japan (ALBA and Golf Digest online) said they were also impressed with Thailand’s golf tourism credentials. Mark Siegel said TAT’s continued promotion of golf tourism and licensing of golf tour operators, who had to pay a bond and could be fined for poor practices, were among other reasons why Thailand would maintain its ascendancy in golf tourism in Asia. Golf course members of Golf In A Kingdom are: Banyan Resort & Golf, Hua Hin; Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin; Muang Kaew Golf, Bangkok; Laem Chabang International Country Club, Pattaya; Thai Country Club, Bangkok; Siam Country Club Old Course and Plantation Course, Pattaya; Chiang Mai Highlands, Chiang Mai. Visit www.golfinakingdom.com or contact Golfasian www.golfasian.com phone +66 2 714 8470. ——————————————— Paul Myers Asian Travel Media, Bangkok paul@asiantravelmedia.com +66 84 125 1894
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    • My wife and I booked a golf weekend to Yogyakarta (Indonesia). We wanted to play golf and visit the historic (UNESCO) temples. Golfasian created a custom tour package for us. All we had to do was show up at the airport. Everything else was taken care of. Very professional. We were able to relax, play 2 different courses (Merapi and Borobudur) and visited the Prambanan and Borobudur temples. We are already looking to use Golfasian for our next golf weekend getaway.
      Jan Sysmans Avatar
      Jan Sysmans
    • Excellent service. Quick responds and good recommendation of courses.
      Robert Lee Avatar
      Robert Lee
    • Just returned from Thailand golf holiday booked through golfasian. Fantastic trip , all staff friendly and professional , cannot fault the course selection and would highly recommend to anyone...planning next trip already..
      Gerald Cox Avatar
      Gerald Cox
    • Golfasian organised a trip for 8 golfers to the Pattaya area of Thailand in November. The planning and organisation prior to he trip was great and we were kept up to date at all times. The staff and drivers during our trip were excellent and I would recommend Golfasian to anyone considering a South East Asian golf trip.
      Shaun Coutts Avatar
      Shaun Coutts
    • Our recent trip to the Pattaya area for 6 rounds of golf was excellent, and went very smoothly. Golfasian's itinerary was well executed, and everything worked like clockwork. Their drivers were exceptional in their service, and would register us at the golf club while we went straight to the locker room or driving range.

      All this at very reasonable price levels makes Golfasian the number one choice for our group, and this is confirmed by us planning our golf holiday through Golfasian for the 8th year in a row.

      Thank you Ian Morgan, and see you guys next year.
      Jehanzeb Khan Avatar
      Jehanzeb Khan
    • First time away and the best time away. Really professional outfit keep it up guys.
      Gregory Sweet Avatar
      Gregory Sweet
    • Four friends, 6 rounds of golf in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. Arrangements by GolfAsian were great and all courses were different but good quality. All transfer drivers were helpful and punctual but our favourite was "Johnson" in KL. Minor criticisms - water was not supplied and our first 9 at Kota Permai was marred by major fairway renovation. All in all we had a fun time and we will be back.
      John Craig Avatar
      John Craig
    • Just returned from Thailand on a 10 day golf trip booked through Golf Asian. Booked the entire trip online through email, without even talking to a live person.

      We arrived in BKK and the entire trip went smooth. Great hotels, great courses, great van drivers.

      Thanks for a great holiday.
      Scott Wood Avatar
      Scott Wood
    • Great service and great responsiveness! Trust Golasian for your golf stays!
      Jean-Philippe Prezat Avatar
      Jean-Philippe Prezat
    • I was in Thailand and my golf was set by Mr. Win. There were some complications from my side as I had to change dates of trip. Mr Win was very flexible with that and organize all to new dates. I visited and played at almost all golf courses near Pukhet - all of them in very good condition. Some of them are not really for higher HCP player... I would not hesitate to organize my next trip with Mr Win !
      Vavro Lubomir Avatar
      Vavro Lubomir
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