A report from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) has shown an average growth of nine per cent in the golf holiday sales industry over the past year.

The inaugural IAGTO Annual Golf Tourism Report surveyed a comprehensive number of golf tour operators from across the globe, found that the average sales growth in 2012 increased by 9.4 per cent compared to the previous year in Europe and the global average proved to be 9.3 per cent.

With over half of IAGTO’s operators European-based, the rise in this region makes for good reading within the industry. North America however saw an even more significant rise, recording 13.5 per cent compared to the year previously, while the Asia Pacific region saw a rise of 5.1 per cent.

Operators in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa all reported growth in excess of 20 per cent.

IAGTO says its more than 2,000 members account for 85 per cent of golf holiday packages sold globally.