VNAT and Greg Norman Golf discuss plans to elevate Vietnam’s golf tourism, highlighting the country’s growing popularity and potential.
At the Headquarter of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, VNAT’s Chairman had a meeting with Mr. Chris Campbell, Senior Vice President of Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) on Vietnam golf tourism promotion plan in the coming time.
VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh addressed at the meeting, that Mr. Greg Norman has taken on the role of Vietnam Tourism Ambassador from October 2018 to October 2021. During this time, Mr. Greg Norman participated in the design of 6 golf courses in Vietnam, including BRG Da Nang Golf Club, The Bluffs Ho Tram, KN Links Cam Ranh, PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, Dragon Golf Links Hai Phong and Sonadezi Chau Duc. At the same time, he cooperated with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism to make a clip promoting Vietnam tourism with the message “A great destination to experience golf” at FLC Ha Long golf course. Last April, VNAT received a proposal from Mr. Greg Norman to be reappointed as Vietnam Tourism Ambassador for the next term.
Recently, golf tourism in Vietnam has been growing strongly. Up to now, Vietnam has 90 golf courses in operation, the number of golf players is also increasing rapidly. The number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2024 is expected to be equal to the number of visitors in 2019. The Northeast Asian market is the main market, accounting for more than 60% of tourists coming to Vietnam to experience golf tourism.
VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh added many localities have completed planning for 6-10 golf courses. Vietnam has about 120-150 thousand golfers and this sport is also becoming quite popular nationwide. Besides, Vietnam has an ideal geographical location with unique terrain and more than 3,200km of coastline. Earlier, the World Golf Awards crowned Vietnam as “World’s Best Golf Destination” for 3 times in a row. This is the international community’s recognition and love for the potential of golf in Vietnam.
According to the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, golf tourism is identified as one of the main products. Previously, VNAT had a meeting with Performance54 on a golf development plan and bringing LIV Golf to Vietnam. VNAT also plans to organize a Summit of Golf owners and some training programs to improve the quality of golf Caddie staff; Develop a set of national standards for golf course construction for tourists and professional sports golf courses so that localities can have directions for implementation, planning, design and operation.
GNGCD’s Senior Vice President Chris Campbell said, that since his first visit to Vietnam in 2004, he has seen Vietnam’s special potential, not only in terms of golf tourism development potential but also in its beautiful landscape, unique geography and friendly people. Vietnam Tourism Ambassador Greg Norman has a huge love and passion for Vietnam, contributing to promoting the development of golf in Vietnam.
Mr. Chris Campbell highly appreciates the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in building a comprehensive tourism development strategy and believes that Vietnam golf will go further in the international arena and Vietnam golf tourism will become one of the types of tourism favored by tourists around the world.
In the near future, Ambassador Greg Norman hopes to have the opportunity to meet and work directly with VNAT to discuss specifically about the plan to promote Vietnam golf tourism, shared Mr. Chris Campbell.
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