The golf tourism market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• In recent years, the golf tourism industry has seen robust growth. The market, worth $5.83 billion in 2024 is projected to increase to $6.28 billion in 2025, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.
This significant growth over the historical period is due to factors such as the worldwide popularity of golf, establishment of new golf courses, international sports events, marketing of resorts and destinations, cultural and recreational attractions, and companies hosting golf events.
The golf tourism market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The golf tourism industry is projected to experience substantial expansion in the coming years, escalating to a value of $9.09 billion by 2029, boasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%.
The surge during the prediction period can be ascribed to the advent of fresh golf locales, enhancements and modernization of golf fields, enriching culinary experiences, endorsements and capital injection by the government, and themed golf events. Key tendencies in the predictive era encompass the utilization of technology to plan golf trips, sustainable and eco-conscious golf tourism, tailor-made golf tour arrangements, partnerships with renowned golfing personalities, and golf cruise offerings.
Golf tourism's burgeoning growth can be attributed to increased governmental backing for its promotion. This support stems from governments capitalizing on golf tourism's potential to bring in foreign exchange revenue, develop specialised products, and contribute to economic expansion by attracting both local and international tourists to golf destinations. A case in point is the US National Development Program (USNDP), launched by The United States Golf Association (USGA) in February 2023. This US-based governing body and national association of golf courses, clubs, and facilities initiated the program to foster elite golf talent on a national scale. The endeavor revolves around identifying and financially succoring promising junior players from various backgrounds, intending to counteract the competitive disadvantage the US experiences in golf development compared to other nations. Similarly, it plans to back 1,000 junior players by 2027 through a sustainable grant initiative that covers costs like entry fees and coaching. Consequently, these advancing governmental efforts to bolster golf tourism are expected to fuel the growth of the golf tourism market.
The golf tourism market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Domestic, International
2) By Service Type: Personal Tours, Professional Tours
3) By Sales Channel: Direct Channel, Distribution Channel
4) By End-User Sex: Male, Female
Subsegments:
1) By Domestic: Regional Travel, Local Golf Clubs And Resorts
2) By International: Destination Golf Packages, International Golf Events And Tournaments, Golf Tours In Popular International Locations
Leading firms in the golf tourism market are progressively putting more emphasis on sustainability efforts such as the green drive tree-planting campaign, acknowledging the crucial role environmental preservation plays in attracting environmentally-aware golfers. These endeavors highlight the increasing understanding of the necessity of green practices in appealing to golfers who value sustainability, thereby increasing the allure of golf locations dedicated to environmental preservation. For example, in June 2023, DP World, a golf tourism company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), initiated a new Green Drive tree planting campaign to endorse environmental accountability and aid in the fight against climate change. This campaign is intended to plant thousands of trees across various golf courses, augmenting biodiversity and ameliorating the ecological impact of the sport.
Major companies operating in the golf tourism market include:
• Fairway Escapes
• Goway Travel
• Golfbreaks Ltd
• Greenscape Holidays
• Par Excellence Getaways
• Carr Golf
• Premier Golf Tours
• Kalos Golf
• Celtic Golf
• Golfasian Co. Ltd
• Direct Golf Holidays
• SouthAmerica.travel
• Ascot Golf Tours
• Chaka Travel
• TeeTime Travels
• Eagle's View Golf Tours
• Golf Tours International
• GHW Golf Tours
• Perry Travel Inc
• Scottish Golf Holidays Inc
• The Haversham and Baker Co
• GolfHolidays.com
• Sophisticated Golfer
• Caribbean Golf & Tours
• Classic Golf Tours
• Golf Plaisir
• EasyGolf Worldwide Australia
• Asian Tour
• Links & Leisure Tours
• Birdie Bound Adventures
• Driveway Golf Tours
• Mulligan Travels
• Stroke Savvy Tours
North America was the largest region in the golf tourism market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the golf tourism market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.