The Scottish golf industry showed encouraging signs of improvement during a buoyant 2011 according to a new study carried out by Golf Tourism Scotland. The results come from a straw poll of travel, hospitality and golf industry professionals who gave an upbeat account of business over the last 12 months.
The survey, which was carried out during the industry’s coveted GTS Gold Standard Awards at the Fairmont St Andrews resort last month, asked golf professionals if 2011 had been an improvement on 2010. Most of those who took part (76%) indicated that progress had been made during the year with a minority (12%) recording a decline and a similar number remaining undecided.
The optimistic assessment was welcomed by GTS chairman Lee Derrick. “As with many industries, golf tourism has been through some difficult and challenging times,” he said. “These results show that confidence is returning to the golf industry, and GTS is committed to turning that belief into positive plans and practical policies that will help promoteScotland’s golf offering around the world.”
As well as the upbeat review of 2011, the GTS study also showed the industry was divided over the recognition it receives for its contribution toScotland’s economy. Around two thirds of those asked felt golf tourism did not receive the credit it deserved, while a quarter thought it did.
“I think this is improving,” noted Derrick. “Golf inScotlandhas been so ingrained in the culture that the economic contribution it makes is often overlooked. This is changing, and with a run of high profile tournaments taking place inScotlandover the next few years, not least of which is the Ryder Cup, I believe the industry’s significance is set to soar.”
A previous report commissioned by Scottish Enterprise estimated that the annual value of golf tourism to the nation’s economy is £220 million and that it supports about 7,000 jobs
Golf Tourism Scotlandwww.golftourismscotland.com