NEWS, OFFERS & NOVELTIES

Head of the Almería Tourist Board, Natalia Díaz, met with 10 provincial golf course directors with the aim of boosting this tourism sector.

This was Díaz’s first contact with the course directors together, the aim to join forces and analyse the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats for golf tourism in Almería province.

One of the issues which came up during the meeting was the lack of awareness elsewhere in Europe about what an ideal golf destination Almería is, the province boasting a dozen, all very different, golf courses.

Those attending the meeting agreed one of the main obstacles to sector growth has been infrastructure, and specifically the insufficient number of flights coming into Almería airport. Díaz explained that Vueling is due do launch an Almería-Barcelona route which will help address the situation, connecting the province with many other countries. Nevertheless, she stressed the Tourist Board is working to get more airlines to begin operating at La Cañada airport.

The golf course directors also maintain it is necessary to work on a complementary offer of gastronomy and leisure.

Díaz emphasized the Tourist Board is keen on a joint collaboration and united efforts to put golf tourism in Almería in the position it deserves to be, telling the golf course representatives there would also be negotiations with tour operators.

There will be a further meeting between the Tourist Board and the golf directors at the end of the month. Attending this meeting were the directors of: Aguilón Golf (Pulpí); Alborán Golf (Almería); Desert Springs (Cuevas del Almanzora); Valle del Este (Vera); Playa Macenas Golf (Mojácar); Marina Golf (Mojácar); Cortijo Grande (Turre); La Envía Golf (Vícar); Playa Serena Golf (Roquetas); and Golf Almerimar (El Ejido).