Golf Magazine 2019
Editorial
It is a great privilege and honour for us to produce the 3rd annual edition of Golf Magazine, and to witness both the progress and growth of the Mauritian golf tourism industry over this period. Each local golf actor has a product to defend, with each striving to create something unique that will create memories. Their consistent efforts have borne fruit with a marked increase in the number of golf visitors. Such statistics prove that, as an industry, we are on the right track… How promisingly exciting!
Without doubt, our beautiful island will remain by and large a holiday destination for honeymooners, couples, and families. Nonetheless, we are clearly putting Mauritius on the map as an unrivalled golf destination in its own right. There is growing evidence that the golf industry has moved from being an added value niche to becoming a reason in and of itself to travel to Mauritius.
The plethora of prizes and awards won by Mauritius over recent years, with only the latest being the IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) ‘Golf Destination of 2019 for Africa, Indian Ocean, and the Gulf’ speaks a lot about the recognition that our Island is receiving from golf industry professionals around the world. In turn, each award increases awareness of ‘Golf Mauritius’ as a brand that needs to be promoted and nurtured so that we are not known for a small island with 10 championship courses only.
Our different micro climate zones alone have allowed us to develop courses so breath-takingly different in terms of settings, landscaping, and scenery. Therefore, it is the destination as a whole that now needs to be promoted in order to pique the interest and curiosity of groups of golfers in particular. We already have a magnificent selection of courses, with a further two 18-hole, and one 9-hole courses under construction. It’s this diversity of playing experience that will draw visitors in ever larger numbers.
The promotion of our destination needs an urgent reset! Let us shift our position, and target more accurately and specifically the growing number of groups coming here to play golf as their primary motivation and activity. When we consider that such groups represent 70% of the world-wide golf travelling market, we begin to get a vision of virgin territories ripe for conquering… Understanding all the components that make up this new positioning and approach is critical if we are to build long term bridges to the various golf markets. With the commitment and buy-in of all parties, we can expect continued and consistent growth. We are convinced that we have something quite unique to offer to golfers everywhere.
Our hope, with this 3rd edition, is that our readers will also testify that Mauritius is today a must-visit and must-play golf destination!
Olivier Lajeunesse – Publisher
