ScottishGovernment

Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include the economy, education, health, justice, housing, transport, taxation and the environment.

The previous 2013 – 2020 golf tourism strategy transcended multiple Major Championships and the hosting on the Ryder and Solheim Cup’s at Gleneagles. The post-pandemic era required a different strategic approach that supported the rebuilding of the industry and took into account a number of macro and micro factors, including changes in customer behaviour, reduced government funding and the impact of Brexit on the workforce.

We recognised the strategy required to have a fully inclusive approach and support not just the golf sector, but also offered collaboration opportunities with the wider tourism industry. To achieve this, key themes were outlined, including developing destinations, education and upskilling, engaging with communities, maximising the value of golf events and protecting the environment.  To ensure the strategy themes were industry led, we developed a quantitative survey that was distributed by a number of organisations to their member businesses, including the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Local Authorities, VisitScotland, The PGA in Scotland and Scottish Golf.

We facilitated the development of a project group that included Scottish Golf, The PGA in Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Inbound Golf Tour Operators Association (SIGTOA) and other key industry stakeholders to feedback on the direction of the strategy and delivery pathways.

The strategy was completed on time and in budget with positive feedback from across the tourism industry. It has been central to the focus of the aims and objectives of the Scottish Golf Tourism Development Group and has supported initiatives undertaken by Scottish Golf and The PGA to support delivery of the strategy.