Portugal crowned World’s Best Golf Destination

  • 1 November, 23

Portugal has been crowned the “World’s Best Golf Destination” in the 10th edition of the World Golf Awards in 2023, described as “the leading authority that recognizes and rewards excellence in golf tourism”.

The country also renewed its title of Europe’s Best Golf Destination, while national golf courses brought home awards as well.

The World Golf Awards are voted on by golf industry professionals from more than 100 countries and are part of the World Travel Awards.The gala event was held in Abu Dhabi on October 23rd, has been hailed by the national tourism authority Turismo de Portugal.  

“The success of Portugal as a golf destination can be attributed to the availability of an integrated tourism experience, good air and land transportation, exceptional hospitality, high-quality sports and hotel infrastructures catering to different types of players, whether they are professional or amateur, and an excellent price-quality ratio,” Turismo de Portugal says on a statement on its website.

“Portugal currently offers 89 golf courses distributed across its seven tourist regions, with a particular focus on the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto and the North regions. As a well-established and internationally recognised tourism product, demand in the first half of 2023 reached record levels, surpassing those recorded during the same period in 2019 (one of Portugal’s best tourism years) and 2022. The average number of rounds played by foreign golfers increased by more than 13% compared to 2019 and 14% compared to 2022,” it adds.

In order to adapt to Portugal’s longer periods of drought, the tourism authority has also highlighted the strategies. According to Turismo de Portugal, strategies are being implemented to “increase water efficiency, improve waste and energy management, as well as reduce the use of plastic on golf courses. This set of actions and initiatives, launched within the scope of the partnership established with the Portuguese Golf Federation and the National Council of the Golf Industry, has consolidated the golf industry as an important partner in the implementation of Turismo de Portugal’s sustainability strategy.”

Cre: Turismo de Portugal

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