Golf courses in Abu Dhabi will benefit from the emirate’s announcement of a marketing, communications, product packaging and distribution platform aimed at helping the emirate increase its share of the global golf tourism market.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which owns the European PGA Tour-backed Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, launched the initiative at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Antalya, Turkey on 15 November.

‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ brings together golf clubs, hotels and destination management companies to leverage the emirate’s potential to attract golfing visitors. ADTA said it expected to see particular interest from the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, China, Korea and Japan, with golf as either the main purpose of visiting the emirate or as part of the holiday experience.

“Abu Dhabi’s golf tourism potential is immense and our competitive positioning will be considerably sharpened through active inter-stakeholder collaborations,” said Dayne Lim, Product Development Director of ADTA. “‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ will ensure that all of our relevant stakeholders work towards a collective objective, which is capturing the emirate a bigger slice of the global gold tourism market.”

Promotional rates and other special offers are to be made available at the three championship-ready courses of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club (ADGC) and Yas Links Golf Club. Other courses in the region which will benefit from the initiative include an 18-hole country course at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, a nine-hole course at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club; and an 18-hole sand course at Al Ghazal Golf Club.

“With half a dozen different playing experiences, tourists visiting the emirates can play a contrasting course, with varying challenges, every day over a standard six-day break,” commented Lim.