Rising airline fees for golf equipment transportation now a significant factor for UK golfers travelling abroad, survey finds
Research for International Golf Travel Market reveals 52% of UK golfers, Europe’s largest source of golf travellers, say the increased cost of flying with their clubs now has a ‘big impact’ on their decision to go abroad or take a golf break at home
(November 10, 2011) Golfers in the UK, Europe’s largest golf market, say rising airline fees to transport sports equipment is now a significant factor in their decision to travel abroad or stay at home for a golf break, a new survey has found.
The research, commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of International Golf Travel Market in Belek, Antalya, Turkey, November 14-17, 2011, found that 80% said the additional luggage fees impacted on their golf break planning, with 52% saying it had a ‘big impact’ on whether they flew abroad or booked a break in the UK.
More than 2,400 golfers – all readers of Golf Monthly magazine – were surveyed for the report, compiled by Sports Marketing Surveys Inc.
The report, which will be published at IGTM, details the key influences on UK golfers and their choice of golf holiday destinations.
Commenting on the findings, IGTM Exhibition Manager, Peter Grimster, said: “This is a startling finding and is indicative of price-sensitivity in the golf travel market.
“While a destination’s variety of golf courses, the price of the break and whether golf is part of the package remain the key influencing factors, clearly UK golfers are weighing up the additional cost of transporting their clubs in deciding whether or not to fly abroad for their golf break.”
According to SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC., there are 3.9 million golfers in the UK (of whom 1.6 million are regular golfers who play at least 12 times a year), the largest golf market in Europe. A quarter of these regular golfers take an annual break where the primary reason is to play golf – whether domestic or overseas – so factors such as additional airline fees for equipment will have a significant impact on international golf tourism.
Peter Grimster continued: “Overall, the research provides interesting insights into how UK golfers go about selecting their golf breaks, where they look for recommendations and advice, as well as the important factors that determine their holiday choices. We have also looked at the increasing role of social media as a channel of communication and influence.”
Copies of the research will be available from the press office on November 15, 2011.
For more information about IGTM, please visit: http://www.igtm.co.uk or visit http://www.iagto.com
ENDS
Picture caption: Peter Grimster, IGTM Exhibition Manager
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About IGTM
IGTM is owned by the world’s leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market and International Luxury Travel Market.
In 2010, RE held more than 460 events in 36 countries bringing together more than seven million people from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.
About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), a business unit of RE, is the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel and the meetings and incentives industry.
The 12 events are: International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), World Travel Market (WTM), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market (IFTM), La Cumbre, International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTMA), Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention Visitors Bureau), Exhibition for the Incentive Business Travel Market (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive Business Travel Market (GIBTM), Americas Incentive Business Travel Market (AIBTM) and China Incentive Business Travel Market (CIBTM).
Reed Exhibitions is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions.
About Golf Monthly
Established in 1911 by double Open Champion, Harold Hilton, Golf Monthly is the world’s oldest monthly golf magazine
Written by golfers, for golfers, each issue comes packed with expert instruction advice from Golf Monthly’s top 25 Coaches and some of the biggest names on Tour, equipment reviews and advice on where to play and stay, plus star player interviews and coverage of issues affecting every level of the game. Quite simply it is the preferred choice of those who are serious about their golf.
About Sports Marketing Surveys
SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. is an experienced and focused sports research business servicing the sports facility, equipment & sports’ goods industry.
It provides a full research service primarily for sports equipment manufacturers, for federations, retailers and sports venue operators where the general public or members play their sport. Service, solutions and insights will be provided to all those interested in participation rates, equipment and facility usage, sports brand images, retailer & end-consumer satisfaction, operating costs and associated areas. For more information SPORTS GOODS, SPORTS VENUES, SPORTS PARTICIPATION.
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