Golf tourists spend €687m in region of Malaga

TOURISTS who visit Malaga province mainly to play golf spend €103 per day on average, a Junta de Andalucia study shows.

Since 2005, the golfing sector has seen visitor numbers increasing by more than three per cent each year, and in 2010 alone, 427,000 golfers spend €687m in Andalucia.

Malaga province has 50 golf courses, more than 55 per cent of the total in Andalucia and almost 30 per cent of the total number in Spain.

The first study carried out in Andalucia since 2005 by the Junta de Andalucia Tourism Council reveals that the Costa del Sol has become the main point of reference for golfers in the region, thanks to the wide variety and quality of golf courses, improved connections via train and plane, and the number of hotels and other activities on offer.

The Costa del Sol is also seen as a pioneering area for the golf sector, and has internationally recognized courses such as Valderrama and Sotogrande.

Tourists who visit Andalucia mainly for golfing account for two per cent of the total number of visitors, and 4.5 per cent of the total tourism income. A high percentage of golfers who visit Malaga province are British and Germans, who stand out as those with the highest purchasing power.

Amongst British golfers, the average profile is that of a group of friends over 35 years old, with a wide social status, all belonging to the same club who want quality golf courses as well as varied leisure and cultural alternatives.

Most prefer destinations with direct flights from their home locations and short transfers to the golf course.

The average golfer in Malaga stays 15.8 days, visiting the golf course 4.6 days, while in Cadiz, visiting golfers only stay for 6.9 days and visit the golf course 3.5 days on average.

Due to upcoming competition in Portugal, Turkey and Morocco, the Junta de Andalucia study advises golf clubs, courses and hotels to offer better value for money in order to keep clients happy.