Notification

Coming Soon...

OK
Cross icon
X

Something went wrong!
Please try again later.

EXPAND Cross icon

EXPANDING


Loader

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Golf tourism has massive potential to position India as a 365-days destination’

General
image
Posted by Admin 17 Apr 2018

Sitting at the helm of affairs in the Tourism terrain, Rashmi Verma, Secretary- Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Government of India, has a finger in many pies. The MOT has stepped up its efforts to exploit golf tourism in its true potential, though a lot needs to be done – feels Verma who believes in mincing no words.

 

In an exclusive interaction with Dinesh Thakur, Founder and CEO of 4moles.com, she answers the volley of questions with élan.

 

 

Dinesh Thakur, Founder and CEO of 4moles.com with Rashmi Verma, Secretary Tourism

 

                      Dinesh Thakur, Founder and CEO of 4moles.com with Rashmi Verma - Secretary, Ministry of Tourism

 

 

Candid Excerpts

 

 

According to the Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs), we have about 10 million inflows out of which 50% is coming from Japan, The US, Europe and these are all golf-friendly countries. Are they any plans that we are doing under the new guidelines to attract the golfers who are already coming in?

 

Yes, we are treating Golf tourism as a niche product and we are hugely focussing on countries on where there is a lot of potential. We are supporting initiatives for developing world-class Golf courses apart from the existing ones. India has some uniquely placed and iconic Golf courses in Srinagar, North-east. We propose to capitalize on that and we have a dedicated sports movie for the promotion of Golf tourism ‘Caddyboots’. We have made this movie in partnership with CNN and we will be using this movie to promote and attract more golfers to our country. We will be focussing on our key markets US and Japan, who also have an interest in Golf.

 

 

Today, the domestic market of Golf is reasonably big. Any new initiatives we are doing to promote Golf tourism in our country?

 

We continue to sponsor the local events and we have a committee which is chaired by me to look at ways and means of promoting Golf tourism. The committee, which also has representatives of various Golf associations, meets on a regular basis. We also engage with the private sector and evaluate strategies on how we can promote Golf tourism in India. We also support events, especially in the North East and we get people on fam tours also.

 

Whenever we give support to such events we have a certain amount of deliverables for them which they have to deliver for the promotion of Golf in India. The tournaments are also shown on media. Also, we are in the process of revamping our website and there will be a separate, dedicated portion on Golf.

 

 

 

Kids Golf is growing about 40% in India. Anything specific we are doing to promote Golf for children in India?

 

 No, We are not doing anything specifically to promote that but this can definitely be looked into.

 

 

Rashmi Verma with Team 4moles.com

 

 

We have around 200 Golf courses and I am sure that you are aware that 70-80% are under the Government today-whether it’s Defence or Delhi Golf course. Unfortunately, the international and domestic Golfers who are actually on the ground are not really welcoming there. Anything we are doing to address the same?

 

 

In fact, many of the Government Golf courses also are now looking at organizing international events and getting international Golfers to showcase their Golf courses and get better revenue for their Golf clubs. We are supporting these events and getting corporate Golfers from abroad on fam tours. When it’s done in partnership with us, they do welcome.

 

 

But that means tourists have to wait for events to play in these Golf courses. What about them who want to play? 

 

But you can visit Delhi Golf Club as well as pay and play!

 

 

That is where the issue is. Today it’s a huge amount of money involved where the Indian also pays the same amount. Maybe, you can look into the same as a committee.

 

Yes, that's something we would look into. 

 

 

Khelo India has started a campaign by the Ministry of Sports. Is the Ministry of Tourism working closely with the Ministry of Sports?

 

Not for Khelo India. But we have given them the responsibility of upgrading and renovating the Golf courses. For instance, the one in Kochi is being done by Sports Authority of India and we are financially supporting them for the development of the facilities there.

 

 

Rashmi Verma, Secretary Ministry of Tourism


 

 

As per our knowledge, there are no specific Golf tour operators in India as a whole. If the tour operators are not there to meet the itineraries and we do not have access to the tee time inventory, does it make the right sense to promote Golf for our travellers coming from across the world? Whenever they are coming, the real Golf courses don’t have the bandwidth to open up. What are your views?

 

 

Yes, Golf clubs have to look at these things but there are tour operators who are solely focussing on getting Golfers and promoting Golf packages. But this needs to happen on a larger scale and this is only feasible only when more golfer travellers make their presence felt in India. Largely, there are two ways of looking at it. One way is to attract Golfers exclusively for playing Golf here. But we are also trying to supplement their experience here. They might be coming on a business trip or they might be coming purely as a tourist or a Buddhist tourist. With the concept of Golf thrown in, their stay becomes a little longer and more experiential.

 

 

Yes, we agree with you 100%. But how do the travellers get access to the course?

 

No, but that’s happening. The states are now allowing these tourists and many of them are planning to set up golf courses near their iconic tourist sites.

 

 

For example, Rambagh Golf Course is situated right in the centre of Jaipur. Today, Rambagh Golf club is a course which is tourist-friendly and has members as well. But with the maximum Golden Triangle of the tourists coming, surprisingly most foreigners do not know how to access these Golf courses. Do they walk-in, do they call someone, do they book somewhere as there is no direct linking? 

 

 

The hotels guide them, many of them get in touch with the clubs, then they are able to go. But again, not so much is happening. But yes, we have asked many of the Golf courses to open up for tourists. But most of them allow to come and pay and play.

 

 

That’s agreed, Ma’am! Like, we manage Thailand and we have connected with almost 45 Golf courses under our own company. In Thailand, the process to connect, help tourists and to plan his itinerary which includes Golf is predefined. In India, we are taking a last minute step saying ‘Oh, you have already come, so we also have Golf which is in Golconda or we can also fly down to Srinagar and maybe play a round or two'.

 

Yes, this needs to be predefined and probably integrate with the regular tour packages.

 

 

Your candid views on the future of Golf tourism in the country.

 

I think Golf has a lot of potential and people play for various reasons – leisure or professional reasons. Golf is getting increasingly popular among the youth. There has also been a lot of interest from many State Governments to develop more Golf courses and upgrade the facilities. What I feel that since we have some very beautiful Golf courses in the hills and North-East, these can be used in making India a year-round destination.  You see a lot of potential but it’s just that a lot needs to be done and these things will take time.

  • image

    Rahul about 5 years

    Good to read & knowing MOT is focusing on Golf Tourism. Being a Golfer & into tourism business, we travel a lot outside India as a Golfer tourist but really want this thing to happen in India where many travelers come as a Golf Tourist, we got awesome Golf Courses but not being able to utilize it. We are organizing a Tournament in Muscat, Oman in Feb. 2019 for 30 Golfers from Gujarat & are in talk to bring Golfers from Oman to come to Gujarat & play tournament here. To promote Golf in India we really need financial support from the government.

  • Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

    Yes No

Breaking News

  • DP World Tour | March 28, 2024

    Three Indians in Top-15 as Luiten, Nakajima and Manassero share lead at Hero Indian Open

    In the latest updates from the Hero Indian Open, Dutch golfer Joost Luiten demonstrated his prowess with an impressive 7-under 67 at the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club. Read More

  • DP World Tour | March 21, 2024

    Stellar Field Set for Indian Open 2024: International Stars and Past Champions Ready to Shine

    An impressive line-up of winners and international stars from the DP World Tour have signed up to enter the Indian Open as 2024 edition of the iconic National Open starts next week. Read More

  • PGA | March 18, 2024

    Scheffler Clinches Back-to-Back Players Championship Titles, Seizes US $4.5 Million Prize Purse

    The golfing world saw an incredible feat of skill and perseverance at the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, as Scottie Scheffler won the tournament for the second year in a row. Read More

  • PGA | March 17, 2024

    THE PLAYERS Championship 2024 - Day 3

    Xander Schauffele's commanding presence on the golf course during the third round of The Players Championship PGA golf tournament on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Flor Read More

  • PGA | March 16, 2024

    THE PLAYERS Championship 2024 - Day 2

    In the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Wyndham Clark, the defending champion of the U.S. Open, has taken a commanding lead. He is well-positioned to win the coveted gold troph Read More

  • Popular News

  • LPGA | March 19, 2024

    Diksha's Exceptional 67 Elevates Her to 15th Place Finish on the Epson Tour Leaderboard

    Diksha Dagar shot one of the greatest rounds of the IOA Golf Classic at the Alaqua Country Club on the last day Read More

  • General | March 15, 2024

    The PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2024: TPC Sawgrass Awaits

    The week at Ponte Vedra Beach is often considered the most significant event on the US tour. It features the most competitive field of the year Read More

  • Ladies European Tour | March 12, 2024

    Diksha's Second Top-10 finish, Pranavi T-17 at Aramco Team Series

    Diksha Dagar maintained her consistent form by securing her second consecutive Top-10 finish with a solid 1-under 71 on the last day of the Aramco Team Series - Tampa. Read More

  • General | March 09, 2024

    Divjot Wins in Boys-8, Arshvant Grabs 2nd in Boys 13-14 at USKG Malaysian Championships

    Divjot Gupta secured victory in the Boys 8 and Under division, posting rounds of 40-37-36 for a cumulative score of 5-over across 27 holes. Read More

  • Hours
    Minute
    Second
    Rolex
    #

    WANT TO GET STARTED?

    Sponsored Links