Slovenia hosted the world's largest golf travel event IGTM 2018

 Slovenia hosted the world's largest golf travel event, the 21st Golf Travel Market (IGTM) 2018 – From 15 to 18 October. The Golf Travel Market attracts 1100 representatives of the golf travel industry, and its members represent 80 percent of international golf travel sales. Three years ago, Slovenia was awarded the prestigious title of a new golf travel tour, which has fundamentally contributed to increasing our country's visibility as a desirable golf destination. Selection of Slovenia as host for the annual meeting of members of the International Association of Tour Operators (IAGTO) It was an important step towards establishing the country as a premier destination for active five star experiences for golf lovers.

Slovenia, the country with one of the highest growth rates among European golf destinations, hosted the 160st International Golf Travel Market (IGTM). The golf travel market took place in the Ljubljana Fair and Congress Centre. Five-day study tours of Slovenian golf courses with XNUMX travel market participants have been developed.

 The IGTM is the world's largest event for golf tourism providers and customers and the most important event organized by the Leading International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). The event was organized in cooperation with the Slovenian Tourism Federation of Slovenia, the Slovenian Tourism Board and Ljubljana Tourism. The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology highlighted the great importance of this tourism product as part of the particularly active products that offer outdoor experiences in nature.

 On this occasion, Eva Straves Podlógar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology emphasized that “Promotion and supply of green, energetic and efficient five-star experiences is the core of Slovenia's sustainable tourism strategy. Considering its topography, Slovenia has exceptional potential to provide the best services and also satisfies the golden players with the most sophisticated taste, hosting IGTM is an opportunity to upgrade our golf courses and provide guests with a full range of experiences by observing the global trends and desires of the golden players. Which leaves less time for guests in other tourism products, and Slovenia, a small and diverse country, has an important advantage in this regard, as guests who play 18 holes in the morning can have lunch on the coast and take an evening stroll in old Ljubljana and therefore it is necessary to ensure cooperation between all Participants in tourism activities in Slovenia.

IGTM is both sales and the most important promotion event promoting golf tourism in Slovenia. The most prominent representatives of the global golf industry arrive at the conference venue, where they get first-hand experience of the target destination. The truth is that it is very difficult to capture the interest of stakeholders in the golf industry in a lesser known destination and put it on their map of events. Many of the promotional trips to which they have been invited for years cannot be as successful as attracting them to a destination, where they, together with their business partners, can discover the beauty and quality of services that Slovenia can certainly offer,” said Ziga Osterek, President of the “Slovenian Economic Interests Pool” He added, “At the end of 2014, Slovenia was awarded the IGTM Undiscovered Golf of the Year 2015, which prompted us to decide to bring IGTM to Slovenia. This goal was achieved in cooperation with STB, Tourism Polyana, major hotels and golf courses in Slovenia.”

Great value!

In 2017, Slovenia was visited by more than 15000 golf tourists from abroad, who played 21 matches. Their spending was estimated at €3.9 million of Slovenia's total economic income, which is an increase of one-fifth compared to 2015.