Golfers play at the Tân Sơn Nhất golf course, where the HCM City Golf Tourism Festival opened on Wednesday. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The HCM City Golf Tourism Festival teed off on Wednesday at the Tân Sơn Nhất golf course to promote Việt Nam’s potential in the domestic and global markets.

The three-day event organised by the city Department of Tourism and Việt Nam Golf Tourism Association features an exhibition on golf tourism products and services and a conference on promoting and training for golf tourism.

The Golf Club Championship held along with the festival began on Wednesday with nearly 1,000 players taking part.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bùi Thị Ngọc Hiếu, deputy director of the tourism department, said the event is the first step in the development of golf tourism.

Last month the city had launched a golf-related tourism product as part of efforts to diversify and improve the competitiveness of its tourism industry.

Trịnh Thành, general secretary of the Việt Nam Golf Tourism Association, said Việt Nam has huge potential to develop golf tourism, which has been identified as a major product.

The weather in Việt Nam is conducive to playing golf almost all year round, he said.

Many people travel to Việt Nam from Europe, Japan and South Korea to play when the weather in their countries is unfavorable for outdoor sports, he said.

The cost of playing in Việt Nam is cheaper than in other countries and people are satisfied with the beautiful golf courses it offers along its coastline and abutting luxury resorts.

Golf holiday packages and tours offer travellers the best courses along with exploration of the country’s beauty, culture and history and at promotional costs, he added.

Around 100,000 Vietnamese and foreigners living in Việt Nam play the sport, according to the Việt Nam Golf Tourism Association.

There are 100 golf courses in the country, including 32 on the sea that meet international standards.

Việt Nam was named the World’s Best Golf Destination in 2019 and 2021 in the World Golf Awards, surpassing many others such as the US, New Zealand, China, Thailand, and South Korea. —VNS