AGTC to boost Philippines’ image as major golf destination

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is currently hosting the Asia Golf Tourism Convention for the first time, welcoming about 200 international golf tour operators from more than 30 countries in a series of activities until tomorrow.

Now on its seventh edition, the AGTC opened yesterday at the Marriott Hotel, where international golf operators and golf tourism suppliers like resorts, hotels, golf courses, inbound tour operators and tourist boards, gather for two days of interaction and establishing links. 

After the main convention, some of the delegates head the fairways to try out some of Phl’s best golf offerings.

Phl was chosen to serve as venue for what’s largely considered the premier golf travel event in the Asia-Pacific region after previous stops in Kuala Lumpur, Pattaya, Hainan Island in China, Jakarta, Chiang Mai and Danang.

The hosting is expected to boost Phl’s status as a top golfing destination in the region, according to Peter Walton, chief executive of International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), which owns and operates the AGTC.

“One of our objectives is to ensure that the host destination benefits directly from the event in a really significant way,” said Walton in yesterday’s press conference, where he was joined by Association for Inbound Golf Tourism Philippines president Connie Mamaril, Tourism Promotions Board COO Cesar Montano, Resorts World Manila COO Stephen Reilly, and Philippine Airlines VP for Corporate Communications Jose Perez de Tagle.

AGTC 2018 has attracted over 560 participants with a record number of golf tour operators (over 160) participating in golf familiarization tours before and after the convention, experiencing first-hand what the Philippines has to offer the international golf traveler.