Representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, leaders of the City People's Committee, and delegates performed the opening ceremony of the conference.

The conference was directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) and the People's Committee of Hue City, and jointly organized by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, the Vietnam Sports Administration, the Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Tourism of Hue City, Group 54, and the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA). Attending the conference were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong; Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Trung Khanh; and on the Hue City side, Standing Committee Member of the City Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hue City Nguyen Thanh Binh.

High potential for development

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong emphasized that golf is becoming an important part of Vietnam's strategy for developing high-quality and sustainable tourism .

In its vision for 2030, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism aims to develop golf as a high-end tourism product, a comprehensive economic , cultural, sports, and tourism sector contributing to green growth, regional development, and national image promotion. Golf will become a bridge between sports, tourism, investment, and education, where Vietnam will not only welcome golfers but also train human resources, organize international events, and build a chain of golf destinations with Vietnamese identity. This is a concrete step to realize the "Vietnam Golf Vision 2030" - towards a sustainable, integrated golf industry that embodies Vietnamese cultural values.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism encourages localities to strengthen regional linkages to form a "national golf destination cluster," in which Central Vietnam, especially Hue, can become the center of a chain of golf, resort, cultural, health and local experience products. Through this, Vietnam can gradually build the brand of Vietnamese golf.

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, golf is both a sport and an enjoyable recreational activity, as well as a service industry that generates significant revenue. In Vietnam, golf tourism revenue reached approximately US$600 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$1 billion by 2025, accounting for about 2.7% of the country's total tourism revenue. It is projected that by 2030, this figure could reach several billion US dollars if proper investment is made.

Travel businesses visited and surveyed the Golden Sands Golf Resort to develop golf products.

Vietnam is considered an ideal golf destination in Asia, boasting diverse terrain, a long coastline with beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and landscapes, and a tropical climate, all highly favorable for investment and development of golf courses and golf tourism. The golf courses in Vietnam are of high quality, built in scenic locations, and integrated with luxurious resorts throughout the country, making them attractive destinations for relaxation and recreation.

Promoting golf tourism in Hue and throughout Vietnam.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, Hue is a leading tourist destination in Vietnam and Asia, and the center of the Central Vietnam Heritage Route. Hue possesses national and world heritage values ​​with 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, many unique cultural values, rich tourism resources, friendly people, and its tourism sector has made impressive strides in recent times. At this conference, with the participation of delegates, golf course owners, international golf associations, experts, and major tourism and resort corporations, all expressed their support and solidarity with Hue, supporting the development of Hue tourism and golf tourism, and sharing their sympathy for Hue's suffering from the recent floods. On the sidelines of the conference, everyone contributed to support the people of Hue affected by the storms and floods.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee, Nguyen Thanh Binh, emphasized that Hue City clearly identifies golf tourism development as a strategic direction in the roadmap to building Hue into a "Heritage City, Festival City, Smart, Friendly, and Sustainable Tourist City." Golf is not just a tourism product, but also a comprehensive ecosystem where sports, relaxation, healthcare, culture, environment, and heritage intertwine, creating a unique experience for tourists.

Currently, the city is finalizing planning and seeking investment for 11 golf resort complexes within its boundaries. Notable projects such as Laguna Lăng Cô Golf Club – a masterpiece nestled in nature and designed by legendary Nick Faldo – and BRG Golden Sands Golf Resort, which won the National Urban Planning Award, are testaments to Hue's potential and vision in this field.

Golf course owners, international golf associations, and experts came to Hue to attend the conference.

To develop golf tourism, the Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Nguyen Trung Khanh, believes that several solutions are needed. These include raising public awareness of the position and role of the tourism industry and golf tourism in the national economy. It is crucial to recognize this as a high-value-added economic sector that creates jobs, contributes to the national budget, and has a ripple effect on other sectors such as aviation, accommodation, sports, resort real estate, and retail. In particular, it is necessary to improve the institutional framework and enact policies to support the development of golf tourism in Vietnam. Simultaneously, emphasis should be placed on developing training programs for golf tourism human resources that meet international standards.

Furthermore, it is necessary to apply science and technology in the investment, construction, operation, and management of golf courses to achieve high efficiency and protect the environment. Promoting linkages and cooperation in golf tourism development between tourism businesses and golf course investors will create attractive and competitively priced golf tourism product/service packages. Strengthening links between tourism businesses, golf course investors, and localities will form a chain of comprehensive golf products and services combining relaxation, dining, health care, and cultural and natural exploration. Finally, it is crucial to promote and publicize Vietnamese golf tourism both domestically and internationally.

 

Nearly 700 million VND donated to support people in Hue affected by storms and floods.

On the sidelines of the conference, various organizations provided support to flood victims in Hue City.

Responding to the request of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Organizing Committee of the Golf Course Owners Conference - Vietnam Tourism Development launched a fundraising program to support flood victims in Hue City, hoping to send heartfelt gifts to help people overcome this difficult period. At the launch ceremony, participating organizations donated a total of 690 million VND.

As the founder and CEO of Group 54, Jed Moore believes that the world is changing every day, from investment flows and how audiences access sports to technology and media. In light of this shift, Vietnam and its localities need a different approach: using golf as a catalyst, but looking beyond the scope of golf itself. This requires coordinated efforts among ministries, sectors, investors, and the community, all working towards a shared vision.

Ms. Renate Roeleveld, CEO of the European Golf Association, believes that Hue has natural advantages, beautiful golf courses, and many cultural and historical elements suitable for tourism development. The challenge for Hue is to develop a complete golf tourism ecosystem, coupled with high-quality accompanying services.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh emphasized that Hue does not develop golf based on breadth or the number of projects, but focuses on quality, identity, and sustainability linked to community development, the environment, and local culture. Hue is also always ready to cooperate with investors who have a strategic vision, integrity, and social responsibility. As the host city of the Conference, Hue aims to become a "connecting nucleus" in the golf development network of Central Vietnam and the whole country. Hue aspires to become an annual meeting point for national and international golf events, a place for exchanging experiences, testing new development models, and spreading the positive values ​​of the industry.

Text and photos: HUU PHUC

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/du-lich/thuc-day-du-lich-golf-phat-trien-ben-vung-159432.html