Influential golf summit links to Thailand's aspiration to be Asia's golf hub

Looking to turn back a "tide of pessimism and despondency sweeping over the game", the just completed 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) called for seismic changes in the golfing industry.

Citing declining rounds, failure to retain new players, high costs associated with the games, the time-consuming nature of the sport and its relative difficulty for new players, a series of high-profile speakers urged delegates to unify and think creatively to grow the game.

Defying the floods that have affected the Thai capital of Bangkok, more than 400 delegates gathered at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall to tackle major issues in the sport at the APGS and Golf Course Superintendents of Asia Summit, Professional Golf Association Conference of Asia and the ASEAN Golf Tourism Forum.

Mike Sebastian, Chief Executive of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, owner and producer of the events, explained "be it in Japan, South Korea, China, India or south east Asia, golf is experiencing challenges.

"There is no denying the fact that the problems faced by golf in the West are beginning to creep into Asia (and) it's only a matter of time before the malaise threatening golf's growth will spread throughout the region.

"The message is very simple ï¾ the industry as a whole needs to be receptive to change and to work in a cohesive manner to grow the game of golf in Asia. We need to get out of a state of self-denial that everything is 'hunky dory' in the golf industry in Asia.

"Let us cut out the lip service and embark on programs that are designed to evoke change ï¾ change for the better. This has got to happen right across the industry and, in the process, we all need to educate our people to acquire better skills at all levels of the industry."

Thailand's hosting of the APGS is part of the country's 'Asia's Golf Hub' project, which aims to promote and develop Thailand to become the golf hub in Asia.

The Government of Thailand has embarked on the ambitious program following a collective policy decision by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sport and three Government agencies - namely Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

This forward-looking initiative is directed at the global golf industry with a view to making Thailand the Asian hub for golf tourism, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.

As well as a range of golf events being staged in Thailand, the country will also become the home for the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame - a permanent museum dedicated to the super-stars of the sport of golf and the home of the annual Asia-Pacific Golf Awards Program.

Sports Authority of Thailand Governor Kanokphand Chulakasem states "we are delighted to see all of these major international golf events being staged in Thailand and we regard this as a very tangible materialisation of everything that we have been trying to do to promote and develop Thailand as the golfing hub of Asia."

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau President Akapol Sorasuchart "this will go a long way to further consolidating the nation's leadership position in tourism (which) plays a very vital part in the local economy and I am confident that golf will continue to grow as a very important component in this growth pattern."

9th March 2011 - THAILAND NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS BRAND IMAGE