The importance of golf to the Algarve economy has again been underlined by the findings of a recent Algarve Tourist Association (ATA) study. It reports that golf is currently worth a phenomenal €500 million to the region and provides almost 17,000 jobs. The organisation’s tourist chairman recently hailed the golf tourism industry is an “extremely important” sector for the Algarve with its massive contribution to the region’s international reputation and also its economic prosperity.
In 2017 alone, an amazing 1.3 million rounds of golf were played on the region’s courses, representing 70 percent of the total number of rounds across Portugal. The ATA also reports that 87 percent of golfers surveyed confirmed having played and enjoyed golf in the Algarve, highlighting the overwhelmingly positive perceptions of the Algarve as a golfing location. Almost 75 percent of players were from the UK, a statistic directly related to the high number of flights between there and southern Portugal. The positive trend is well set to be maintained as the great game of golf continues going from strength to strength in the beautiful Algarve.
Image: Benamor golf course