The Philippines will roll out the red carpet this week for some of golf’s biggest names as part of the government’s larger plan to diversify tourism with the sport at the forefront.
The Southeast Asian countries are vying for a share of Asia’s huge golf tourism market, which is expected to generate $9 billion by 2030, according to figures from US analyst Grand View Research.
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To showcase what the country has to offer, the government is focusing this week on an International Series tournament featuring the Big Four champions and Asia’s national teams.
According to official statistics, the country earns more than $40 billion a year from tourism, but golf contributes only a small portion.
That’s because the Philippines is not an easy destination for cash-rich golf tourists, according to industry expert Mike Besa.
Private clubs are largely inaccessible to visitors, and members are reluctant to share facilities.
“Golf in our country is difficult at best,” Besa wrote in the Philippine Business Mirror newspaper.
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“Most of the time it’s just frustrating for inexperienced travelers.
“Even the big travel companies are throwing up their hands and surrendering to the rigors of doing business here.”
– Presidential support –
It’s much easier to go to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam or Japan, where courses readily accept tourists and cash is also welcome in the clubhouse.
Lyle Uy, director of golf tourism and special projects at the Philippine Department of Tourism, is tasked with changing that and opening up golf.
He did not provide details of the government’s financial investment in this week’s events. The event is one of the top nine International Series tournaments on the Asian Tour with a total prize pool of $2 million.
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But that support comes in many forms, he said.
“My main goal is to convince my friends from different countries to look at the Philippines,” Uy told AFP in the shadow of a luxurious train station. Elena Clubhouse in the south of Manila.
Former Masters champions Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and Charles Schwartzel took to the course set on a large private estate, drawing a crowd of spectators with the Sierra Madre Mountains in the background.
This is the most prestigious lineup ever assembled for a golf tournament in the Philippines.
But the manicured fairways and greens may reinforce the perception that golf is only for the rich in a country where poverty is widespread and the average per capita GDP is about $4,000. In nearby Hong Kong, it costs $54,000.
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“Most of the golf courses here are private, more than 90 percent,” Uy admitted.
“So we’re looking at actually extending our assistance to these property owners to help them open.”
His department has strong support. Two years ago, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared his ambition to make the Philippines a sports tourism destination.
～Easy to access and affordable～
Patrick Gregorio is the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, which is responsible for athlete development.
He believes the government’s involvement means clubs can be persuaded to open the door to growing the game.
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“Accessibility means affordability,” Gregorio told AFP.
“I am sure that the private clubs will help. If we, the Philippine Sports Commission, give them a clear program, they will support it.”
“The landscape of golf in the Philippines will change dramatically.”
Tourism to the Philippines accounts for almost 10% of the country’s GDP and is primarily generated by people seeking sand, sea, surfing, and scuba diving.
“The Philippines is known for its beaches, but at the end of the day, there’s much more to the Philippines than that,” Uy said.
“It’s not just golf. I’m considering triathlons. I’m also considering running. Marathons are starting to pick up. I’m also considering diving.”
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Our commitment to making the Philippines a premier sporting destination does not begin and end with hosting top-class golf tournaments.
In recent years, the country has hosted the Basketball World Cup, the Volleyball World Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games.
Along with this week’s top-class field, the music concert is part of an entertainment package that sends the message that the Philippines should be on every golf traveler’s to-do list.
“I hope the buzz around this event will accelerate the growth of golf in the Philippines,” Reed, the 2018 US Masters winner, told AFP.
“The easiest way to grow the game is to bring in the world’s best players to introduce them to golf and its fun.
“I think that’s the case this week, especially for the younger generation.”
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