Invest heavily in golf tourism.

With its diverse landscapes, famous landmarks, and a system of international-standard golf courses offering unique views, Quang Ninh is becoming an attractive destination for tourists who love this sport.

Korean tourists play golf at Tuan Chau Golf Course.

Sun Travel is one of the travel agencies that has regularly brought Korean tourists to Quang Ninh over the past three years. Mr. Kim Heon Joong, the company's director, believes that the destinations in Quang Ninh are perfectly suited to the tastes of Korean tourists. Mr. Kim Heon Joong shared: "Our company has been bringing Korean tourists to Quang Ninh for many years. Besides tours to famous scenic spots, we have expanded our market to include golf enthusiasts and have received many positive responses. Currently, it is golf tourism season, so we expect to see even more Korean tour groups coming to Quang Ninh in the near future."

In early February, Sun Travel, in collaboration with Korean partners, organized a large-scale golf tournament with the participation of 150 athletes and tourists. This was also one of the largest golf tour groups this year. The group stayed at several 5-star hotels and resorts for a week to compete at the Tuan Chau Golf Course and FLC Ha Long, and to visit famous landmarks such as Ha Long Bay and the Quang Ninh Museum, exploring local culture and cuisine .

From the end of September 2026 to the beginning of April 2027, the cool weather is the "golden time" for golf and golf tourism, especially during the peak season for friendly tournaments between golf clubs and groups. Therefore, most golf courses in Quang Ninh are operating at full capacity. The players are diverse, ranging from foreign tourists from Taiwan, China, and South Korea to domestic visitors.

Quang Ninh is showing a clear transformation by combining sports, high-end resorts, and heritage to create a deep-rooted tourism "ecosystem" targeting high-spending tourists. With its rare geographical advantages of sea, islands, bays, mountains, and forests, along with an increasingly完善 transportation network, Quang Ninh has been consistently chosen as a destination for national and international sporting events in recent years. Unlike traditional trends, golf tourists tend to visit and return multiple times, utilizing high-end hotel and restaurant services. Developing golf services not only helps Quang Ninh diversify its products and enhance tourism competitiveness, but also attracts high-spending tourists who stay for longer periods, stimulating the high-end resort segment.

With the goal of becoming one of the leading golf tourism centers in the North, attracting domestic and international tourists, Quang Ninh has oriented the development of golf courses according to the general planning of the province and localities. Quang Ninh currently boasts four world-class golf courses: FLC Ha Long, Tuan Chau, Vinh Thuan, and Silk Path Dong Trieu, in addition to several courses in Quang Hanh and Uong Bi that are under construction. According to Decision No. 80/QD-TTg dated February 11, 2023, of the Prime Minister approving the Quang Ninh Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Quang Ninh is planned to have 22 golf courses in major tourist centers, aiming to form a network of golf courses meeting international standards. This is considered an important foundation for the development of golf tourism - a type of tourism associated with high-end resorts, long stays, and high spending levels.

Tourists play golf at the FLC Ha Long golf course.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thuy, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Golf Association and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Golf Association, assessed: "Quang Ninh's uniqueness lies in its ability to combine golf with heritage experiences, especially since Quang Ninh possesses two World Heritage sites, along with a system of outstanding scenic spots and distinctive local culture. In its role, the Quang Ninh Golf Association in particular and the Vietnam Golf Association in general are doing a great job connecting and collaborating in the development of golf linked to tourism. Currently, Quang Ninh has about 20 golf clubs spread throughout the province. Many clubs have the participation of foreign investors, including large-scale investors, contributing to creating a network of connections, sharing, and increasing the close relationship between the international business community and Quang Ninh."

According to experts, the golf city model, with its numerous golf courses and integrated service chain, will encourage tourists to stay longer and spend more, thereby attracting investment and creating momentum for sustainable development. For the high-end tourist segment, including international billionaires, golf is only one part of the overall experience. Quang Ninh has recently seen many investors boldly investing in luxury yachts, high-end transportation, and international-standard reception services. However, to fully meet the needs of this group of tourists, the golf course system must also be of commensurate quality, along with a professional service team with foreign language skills, including positions such as caddies. Golf development, therefore, cannot be extensive but needs to be in-depth, sophisticated, and standardized to become a high-end, sustainable tourism product.

Hoang Quynh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/dau-tu-chuyen-sau-cho-du-lich-golf-3398248.html