AGIF conference aiding Danang’s lofty golfing goals

Staged in conjunction with BRG Group and Danang Tourism, the first edition of the AGIF Danang Conference concluded last week.

Held at the BRG Group-owned Sheraton Grand Hotel, the conference was part of a week-long golfing festival during which the BRG Danang Golf Resort hosted a 54-hole event on the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s feeder circuit.

BRG’s founder and chairman Nguyen Thi Nga spoke at the AGIF Danang Conference

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Thi Nga, founder and chairman of BRG Group said, “Although the pandemic affected many sectors and industries of Vietnam’s economy, including golf, I believe that these challenges cannot delay or deny the development of the golf industry in the future.”

Even during the period of interruption, BRG Group continued to construct new golf courses, such as the BRG Rose Canyon Golf Resort in Hanam which is due to open in December. Furthermore, BRG has taken advantage of quieter periods to renovate older courses to ensure top conditions as golfers return.

“Therefore, I truly believe Vietnamese businesses will soon recover and see strong growth in the near future. And the AGIF Danang Conference along with the Asian Development Tour event that we are hosting will be our significant contribution to that process and part of our corporate efforts to support Danang's tourism.”

Nga’s views were echoed by Nguyen Trung Khanh, chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the Danang Department of Tourism.

In his presentation on Golf Development in Vietnam and the Role of Danang as a Golf Destination, Binh told delegates that the number of golf courses in Vietnam would rise from 78 to 200 within the next five years.

“We’re committed to hosting the Danang Golf Festival annually for the next three years as part of our overall Danang Fantastic City tourism programme,” Binh said. “We were excited to bring the Asian Development Tour to Danang for the first time and delighted that it was complemented by the AGIF Danang Conference, which brought golf experts and golf expertise to Danang. The staging of the AGIF Danang Conference and the BRG Open Golf Championship underline Danang’s growing tourism reputation as the number one golfing destination in Asia.”

Nga added that golf is now playing an important role in attracting high-end tourists because Vietnam is a very exciting destination with many new and interesting things still to discover. With ancillary services supporting golfers, the number of international visitors coming to Vietnam through golf will bring a larger source of income.

With an enticing combination of high-quality golf, stunning beaches, and luxury resorts, Central Vietnam is widely regarded as the nation’s hub for golf tourism.

Chris Gray, the AGIF’s president noted, “According to golf tour operators, there are signs that golf tourism into Vietnam is surging once more. It’s clear that the country and Danang have all the ingredients of the world’s finest golf tourism destinations.”

While inbound golf tourism is predicted to grow rapidly, so too is the local golfing population, which is currently estimated at 70,000. The figure is projected to increase more than four-fold to 300,000 by 2025.

The Vietnam Golf Association has formulated development programmes aimed at increasing golfing participation across the country and staging more events at amateur and professional levels.

BRG Group expands efforts in major golf events After backing the local golf industry for over two decades, BRG Group is now further increasing its efforts to turn Vietnam into a golf paradise.

Vietnam’s golf sector creating new impetus for tourism With excellent course conditions, impeccable services, and enjoyable weather among the reasons that draw golfers to Vietnam, golf is expected to drive the recovery of tourism in Vietnam.

Golf course real estate setting trends The openness in policies, the explosion in the number of golfers, and the trend of resorting and enjoying high-class services have created an impetus for golf real estate to develop rapidly and become an investment channel for the market.