Asian Golf Tourism Issue 2 Is Out Now

The second edition of Asian Golf Tourism, the go-to magazine that has been designed to be the most informative and thorough publication on golf tourism in Asia and the authoritative guide to both the trade and consumer alike, is out now.

In this edition you will find amongst others information on the upcoming Asia Pacific Golf Summit, where several major players in the golf (tourism) industry from Indonesia will be present, including Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, HE Mari Elka Pangestu, who will be the keynote speaker. Furthermore articles on developments in Bintan, Bali and a 8-page feature on the Jagorawi Toll Road golf courses, Jakarta's equivalent to Mission Hills.

Also articles on golf in Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Vietnam and much more. To read this online magazine click here.

Indonesia's Tourism Minister To Speak At Asia Pacific Golf Summit

The Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs. Mari Elka Pangestu has accepted an invitation to be a special VIP guest speaker at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit slated to be held in the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei Darussalam on December 11-13.

"We are very pleased to have a person of Mrs. Pangestu's standing to address the Summit this year and coming from the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is a clear indication as to the importance that Indonesia attaches to the golf industry," said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Summit.

Mrs. Pangestu will deliver her address on the opening day of the Summit which will be on December 11. "It is really an honour for us to be able to play host to not only one of Indonesia's most senior ministers but also a leader who is recognised throughout the region for her ability to lead and deliver results," pointed out Sebastian.

More than 60 world-class speakers and panellists have already been confirmed to take part in APGS 2012.

Indonesia Gets Focused on Golf Tourism

If there is one country in Asia that is awakening to the game of golf and the role that it can play in promoting tourism, it has got to be the Republic of Indonesia. It has been a nation that has been flying below the international golf radar for quite a while but all of a sudden, golf has shot into the forefront of tourism promotion.

It's the big buzz word amongst stake-holders of the game in the country and the importance of golf tourism has taken a whole new meaning. It is regarded as of the "pillars of tourism" and the programme to drive Indonesia up the ladder of great golf destinations is being spearheaded by the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs. Mari Elka Pangestu.

Mrs. Pangestu takes over this challenging portfolio after having has a very successful stint as the nation's Minister of Trade. In appointing her, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said, "I trust Mari Pangestu to lead the ministry and I want, in the next three years, to develop tourism and the creative economy."

Being the target-driven person that she is, Mrs. Pangestu has taken the bull by the horns and is determined to deliver the results that are expected of her. "I have drawn up a three-year master plan to develop a road map that will help us develop and grow golf tourism in the country," she emphasised.

In a discussion with the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the new tourism supremo declared, "From a base of some 20,000 golf tourists who come to Indonesia, my aim is to grow this number ten times over in the next three years". A truly bold statement that is just not political rhetoric. This is a lady who is realistic and who understands the challenges that she has to work against to achieve her goal. She has the vision and the intellect to get the job done – after all, before she ascended to a ministerial post, she was the executive director at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

"We have all of the essential ingredients for success already in place," she explained. "We have some 162 golf courses in the country and most of our courses are really wonderful – a visitor can play golf in a myriad of settings – by spectacular volcanoes, by stunning oceans capes and spell-binding rainforests". "Combined with our rich culture, the warmth of the Indonesian people and the delectable variety of exotic food, Indonesia is a veritable showcase for golf," Mrs. Pangestu pointed out. To make her point, she singled out the Jagorawi toll road, a 59-kilometre stretch of highway that is dotted with 17 world-class golf courses. "Where else in Asia can one find a lay-out like this!" After having taken her advice and driven through this thoroughfare, one must admit that Jagorawi is indeed a "highway to golfing heaven".

A keen golfer herself, Mrs. Pangestu has adopted a highly holistic plan that will involve a number of regions within the sprawling archipelago of 13466 islands to develop golf tourism. "We have Jakarta, Bali and the islands of Batam and Bintan in the Riau archipelago and we plan to improve all of the supporting infrastructure around these destinations and to transform these centres into golfing havens," the Minister said.
Given her focus, drive and determination, there is absolutely nothing that can come in the way of Mrs. Pangestu as she pushes ahead to transform the Indonesian Republic into one of Asia's top golf tourism destinations.

Golf Tourism To Take Center Stage At APGS 2012

Singapore, 12 June 2012 - For the first time, the movers and shakers of the golf industry in Asia will find out how valuable and how important golf tourism really is to the region as a whole.

Never before has this topic been handled at a major international conference in Asia.

At the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit, some of the most knowledgeable and most respected experts on golf tourism will on hand to discuss the topic - GOLF TOURISM – A DYNAMIC NEW ENGINE OF GROWTH.

This topic will be the subject of a high-powered panel discussion to be led by Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammad, Director of Tourism, Brunei Tourism.

The expert panel will include the following members:

• Stacey Walton - General Manager, Banyan Golf Club (Thailand)
• Mark Seigel – Managing Director, GolfAsian Pte Ltd (Thailand)
• Dennis Kloeth – Managing Director, IndoGolf (Indonesia)
• Paul Gibbons – Director, Group Marketing, MST Golf (Malaysia)

Commenting on the topic and the panel composition, Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the producer and owner of the Summit said, “The subject of golf tourism cannot be ignored. As it is, it is already a multi-billion dollar income generator for some countries in the region and it is hoped that this panel will serve as a fore-runner to more attention being paid to golf tourism.”

He went on to add, “The panel that we have assembled is a world-class group of some of the best experts in the business and under the expert direction of Sheikh Jamaluddin, we can look forward to a very enlightening and entertaining panel session.”

More than 30 world class speakers have already accepted invitations to speak at the 2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

For more details, please visit the Summit’s web site at http://www.golfconference.org

Launch Of Asian Golf Tourism Ezine

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM ...
THE BIRTH OF A NEW POWER-HOUSE!

Finally, Asia has its very own magazine devoted to the promotion of golf tourism.

Asian Golf Tourism – the 101 go-to magazine has been designed to be the most informative and thorough publication that will serve as an authoritative guide to both the trade and consumer alike.

Asia has rapidly become one of the most attractive golf tourism destinations on the planet. Countries like Thailand, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines offer golfing experiences that are unmatched anywhere else.

No other region can offer a combination of world class golf courses, well-trained caddies, beautiful climatic conditions and exotic attractions like Asia. Playing golf in Asia is an experience that more and more golfers look forward to. Besides all of the plus factors, golf in Asia also has another very attractive feature and that relates to the cost of playing the game. It’s a real value for money experience.

Our mission going forward will be to work with national tourism organisations, golf resort and course operators and other industry players to seek out the best that Asia has to offer. Asian Golf Tourism will be that one very special one-stop destination for everything on golf tourism.

For the rest of 2012, Asian Golf Tourism will be published on a quarterly basis and with effect from January 2013, it will become a bi-monthly. In concert with the magazine, we will also be launching a web site that will host the magazine and be a useful source of information on golfing destinations, special packages etc.

Asian Golf Tourism – Golf Tourism Unravelled!

To view the e-zine click HERE.