The sixth edition of the IAGTO’s Spain Trophy has been moved from 2020 to May 2021 and will be hosted by the Andalucía Tourism Board and staged in Cádiz Province.
Global golf tourism industry body IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) staged its first Spain Trophy in Marbella, Andalucía, in 2015 and will return to the region for the first time since then next year. The IAGTO Andalucía Trophy – Cadiz has a dual purpose: to provide leading golf tour operators with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the golf tourism product of the host destination, and to provide a meeting environment for tour operators to discuss business with Spanish golf courses, golf resorts, hotels, inbound operators and golf tourism providers.
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “Jointly with the Andalucía Tourism Board and the Cwe took an early decision to postpone this important event from May 2020 initially to November 2020, but in consideration of all factors resulting from the outbreak of Covid-19 we are rescheduling the Trophy for 24-26 May, 2021. There is an enormous desire within the golf tourism industry in Spain and among more than 400 IAGTO tour operators worldwide featuring, promoting and selling the destination to re-establish those connections, both with the product and the individuals, and we are delighted that our hosts in Andalucía have once again provided us with the opportunity to do just that.”
The IAGTO Andalucía Trophy – Cadiz will see up to 100 golf tour operators meet with 130 Spanish suppliers and become familiar with Jerez, where the convention will take place, and the province of Cádiz as well as destinations throughout Andalucía.
Walton added: “In recent weeks we have seen the desire of golfers around the world to get back out into the fresh air to enjoy many rounds of golf and this enthusiasm will shift first to domestic and then to international golf trips over the coming months. Andalucía suffered one of the lowest rates of Covid-19 spread in Spain over the past few months and the tourism authorities have done an incredible job of ensuring the safest possible return to international travel.
“We will of course be ever vigilant in terms of organising the event to embrace any and all recommended precautions at the time and, at the same time, we also recognise the importance of this event to the Spanish golf tourism industry.”
This has not been the only event that the organization has been forced to reschedule due to the covid-19 health crisis. The ninth edition of its Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC), taking place from 20-22 April, 2021, provides an opportunity for golf tour operators from around the world to meet with golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and other golf tourism suppliers from across the Asia Pacific region and to experience the incredible year-round golf destination of Miyazaki on Kyushu Island in southern Japan. Tour operators will arrive on 17 April for three days of golf before the convention gets under way on 21 April with golf inspection trips to other parts of Japan beginning two days later.
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “After skipping a year due to Covid-19, we are really excited to have this opportunity to reconvene the convention in the iconic and magical golf destination of Miyazaki, just three months before the rescheduled Olympics.
“Having staged a number of familiarisation tours and events in Japan since 2010, we know that there is enormous interest in the country from golf tour operators and their discerning clients. For decades, Miyazaki has been very well known as a tremendous golf destination domestically and now, thanks to the support of the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, we will be able showcase the destination to the world, just as all eyes turn to Japan.”
AGTC 2021 will take place at the Phoenix Seagaia Resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean just 20 minutes from Miyazaki Airport. The resort’s 27-hole Phoenix Country Club has hosted the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament every year since 1974. Past champions include Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, a youthful Seve Ballesteros and, more recently, Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.
At an announcement in Miyazaki City on 13 July, the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kouno Shunji, said: “We are delighted and honoured to hear that Miyazaki has been selected to host the AGTC 2021. Since Miyazaki Prefecture has plenty of great golf courses and is blessed with a warm climate that makes for great golfing all year round, we stage a number of pro tournaments and receive thousands of golf visitors every year. We very much look forward to seeing everyone at AGTC 2021!”
Walton added: “In the months ahead we will continue to closely track the course of and, hopefully, recovery from, Covid-19 around the globe and we will implement all necessary precautions that may still be required next year.”