The Tourist Board of the Costa del Sol (Spain), an autonomous body of local government whose objectives are to define policies for tourism development, has recently published a comprehensive study on the “Golf Tourism in Andalusia” that includes many features of interest to the general public as well as the professional.
Some of these are:
According to data published by the European Golf Association (EGA) is checked as the golf industry continues to advance at European level, taking into account the increases in the number of golf courses and the number of golf players: between the years 2005 to 2010 the golf course go from 6.100 to 6.800, and during the same period the number of players go from 4,000,000 to 4,500,000.
The distribution of these variables for 2010 leaves the UK as a leader in this field. England and Scotland golf courses totaling 2,417 and just over one million golf players. The next largest markets such as Germany, France, Spain and Nordic countries. Specifically would be: England 1881 golf courses and 805,206 players. Germany with 700 golf courses and 599,328 players. Sweden with 456 golf courses and 512,407 players. France with 574 golf courses and 410,377 players. Spain with 345 golf courses and 338,160 players. Netherlands with 192 golf courses and 344,000 players. Scotland with 536 golf courses and 244,960 players. Ireland with 417 golf courses and 259,000 players. Denmark with 201 golf courses and 152,622 players. Finland with 126 golf courses and 137,282 players …. etc..
Nationally, Andalusia takes hold in the lead in offering golf, and in 2010 captured 24.2% of the golf courses in Spain. Although their core competencies focus on: Algarve as a destination consolidated Turkey emerging as the main competition, Lisbon and Morocco and future competitions. Where Turkey stands out especially with a growing range of quality courses and services, although still far from safe levels to ensure the destiny of the European Union.
In Andalusia, the main golf tourist is Britain, followed by German and Scandinavian lesser extent. At national level, mainly in Madrid and to a lesser extent Catalonia and the Basque Country.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Sport, Andalusia in 2010 received a total of 427 thousand golf tourists is a cumulative annual growth over the figure posted in 2005 of +3.2%. These tourists have generated a turnover worth 687 million euros, implying a cumulative real growth of +2.8% annually. Golf tourism accounts for 2% of tourists received in Andalusia in 2010 and produces 4.5% of total tourism revenue.
In the analyzed are the German tourists who make greater use of hotel accommodation (70%) while national or British does not exceed 50%.
Although all sources provide an excellent rating to the concepts of golf facilities in Andalusia, it is noteworthy that the British are the most satisfied, and reaching the highest scores on all items except the management of bookings, which are more satisfied the Spanish, while the Germans are more demanding to perform valuations lower, except the price level and complementary offering to the golf course that is the Spanish who give a lower score. The evaluation points were: design of the golf course, maintaince, signing of the course, prices of the course, golf rentals, booking management, number of players on the course, infrastructure and facilities services on the golf course, environment, access and complementary offer. The score (rating of 1 to 10) measured from the Spanish were 7.96, 7.81 of the Germans and the British 8.16.
Four Andalusian provinces account for 87.3% of the supply of golf courses and around 90% of all golf rounds in Andalucia: Malaga, Cadiz, Huelva and Almería. The United Kingdom remains a national presence with more golf tourism in Andalucia, noting especially in Almeria (61.3%) and Malaga (37.4%). Another big market is the Nordic countries, with strong presence in Huelva (28.2%) and Almeria(22.1%), while German tourism is important in Cadiz (43.5%). Where the main reasons to choose Andalucia were: climate (89.7% 9), sports facilities (50%), hospitality (40.1%), food (35.8%), price (27%), knowing the destination (9%), other factors (5.5%), folklore (1.5%) and excursions (0.9%).
Spain is the second tourist destination in Europe after France and third in the world after the United States (although in 2010 it was overtaken by China, but not by income), but first in Europe as a destination for Golf, where this published data speaks for itself . Which highlights Andalucia, Costa del Sol and finally this privileged area which houses the best courses in Europe: Las Brisas, Aloha, Los Naranajos … etc, where also lays Los Arqueros Golf designed by our Severiano Ballesteros. Los Arqueros Golf is definitely in the World Golf map.
