Golf Tourism Market

Market Overview:

The global golf tourism market size reached USD 25.7 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 42.9 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during 2025-2033. The increasing number of golf clubs and associations, rising influence of social media platforms, and the growing awareness about the benefits of engaging in different leisure activities are some of the major factors propelling the market.

Golf tourism refers to the travel and leisure activities associated with playing golf in different locations around the world. It involves individuals or groups traveling to various destinations to play golf and enjoy related amenities and experiences. It combines the enjoyment of golf with exploring new destinations, including stays at golf resorts or hotels that offer golf courses as part of their facilities. It provides economic benefits to these regions by attracting visitors, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating local businesses, such as golf course operators, accommodation providers, restaurants, and tour operators.

The increasing number of golf clubs, associations, and institutions is favoring the growth of the market. Moreover, the rising influence of social media platforms and the promotion of golf tourism by influencers, celebrities, and professional golfers is contributing to the market growth. Apart from this, the increasing preference for sustainable adventure tourism among travelers is impelling the growth of the market. Furthermore, initiatives undertaken by governing agencies of different countries to encourage the adoption of adventure tourism as it creates employment opportunities are propelling the growth of the market.

Golf Tourism Market Trends/Drivers:

Increasing participation of individuals in recreational sports and fitness activities

Golf is a widely enjoyed sport worldwide, which attracts millions of players of all skill levels. It involves a combination of physical activity, strategic thinking, and social interaction. Golf enthusiasts often seek out new and unique courses to challenge themselves and experience different playing conditions. As a result, golf tourism has gained popularity worldwide as individuals are travelling to explore renowned golf destinations and play on iconic courses. The allure of experiencing famous fairways, testing skills of individuals, and enjoying the camaraderie with fellow golfers is catalyzing the demand for golf tourism.

Easy availability of quality golf infrastructure

Golfers are drawn to locations that offer a combination of beautiful landscapes, favorable climates, and cultural attractions. Destinations with a range of high-quality golf courses, including championship layouts and well-maintained facilities, attract golf tourists seeking memorable experiences. Numerous countries are investing on their rich golfing heritage and financed developing golf resorts and courses, becoming popular hotspots for golf tourism. The presence of world-class accommodations, amenities, and complementary leisure activities further enhances the destination's allure and drives demand for golf tourism.

Rising promotional activities of golf tourism packages

Travel agencies, tour operators, and golf resorts often create attractive packages that bundle accommodations, golf rounds, transportation, and additional perks into a comprehensive offering. These packages provide convenience, value for money, and a streamlined experience for golf tourists. Promotional campaigns and discounted rates for certain periods or groups can also incentivize individuals to embark on golfing trips. Such marketing initiatives make golf tourism more accessible and appealing, which attracts both avid golfers and casual players who may be enticed by the cost savings or the added benefits of these packages.

Golf Tourism Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global golf tourism market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033 Our report has categorized the market based on type and service type.

Breakup by Type:

• Domestic
• International
   

Domestic dominates the market

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes domestic and international. According to the report, domestic represented the largest segment.

Domestic golf tourism refers to the travel for golf within the own country. It involves golf enthusiasts who choose to visit golf destinations or courses within their own nation for leisure, tournaments, or other golf-related activities. It is popular among individuals and groups who want to explore different regions of their country while enjoying their favorite sport. It offers convenience, familiarity with local language and customs, reduced travel costs, and the opportunity to support local golf courses and businesses.

International golf tourism involves traveling to foreign countries specifically to play golf. It is a form of golf travel wherein individuals or groups visit different destinations around the world to experience new golf courses, cultures, and landscapes. It allows golf enthusiasts to explore renowned golf destinations and combine their passion for the sport with the excitement of international travel. It offers various opportunities to play on prestigious golf courses, participate in tournaments, and experience diverse golfing cultures. It also provides the chance to broaden one's golfing horizons, meet fellow golfers from different backgrounds, and explore new cultures and destinations.

Breakup by Service Type:

• Personal Tours
• Professional Tours
   

Professional tours hold the largest share in the market

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the end use has also been provided in the service type. This includes personal tours and professional tours. According to the report, professional tours accounted for the largest market share.

Professional golf tours are organized golfing experiences that cater to professional or highly skilled golfers who participate in competitive events, tournaments, or exhibition matches. They provide opportunities to players for competing at different golf courses or venues, often in various locations around the world. They are organized by professional golf associations, tournament organizers, or management companies specializing in professional golf events. They adhere to specific rules, regulations, and qualification criteria to ensure a high level of competition and fair play. They provide a platform for golfers to showcase their skills, earn rankings and points, and potentially secure sponsorships or opportunities to advance their professional golf careers.

Personal tours in golf tourism refer to customized or individualized travel experiences tailored to the specific preferences and needs of golfers. They are designed to provide personalized golfing experiences based on factors, such as skill level, interests, budget, and desired destinations. They can cater to various types of golfers, which range from beginners seeking casual play to advanced players looking for challenging courses or professional training opportunities. They can be organized for individuals, couples, families, or small groups and can span a few days to several weeks, which depends on the requirements of the golfer.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Others
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others 
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America exhibits a clear dominance, accounting for the largest market share

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. 

The increasing number of world class golf courses and resorts represents one of the primary factors driving the demand for golf tourism in the North American region. Moreover, rising preferences for golf as a luxury sport is favoring the growth of the market in the region. Besides this, the growing popularity of golf tournaments is influencing the market positively in the region.

Europe is estimated to witness stable growth, owing to the well-established golf infrastructure, integration of advanced technologies, government initiatives, etc.

Competitive Landscape:

The leading companies in the global tourism market are integrating golf course management systems to utilize advanced software and hardware solutions to streamline operations, enhance golfer experience, and optimize course maintenance. These systems include features, such as online tee time booking, real time course status updates, player tracking, and automated inventory management. They help golfers easily schedule tee times, monitor course conditions, and receive personalized notifications. Moreover, the launch of mobile apps that offer features, such as tee time booking, a global positioning system (GPS) course mapping, score tracking, real-time leaderboards, and social networking for golfers to connect and share experiences is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry players. These apps enhance communication between golfers and golf courses, facilitate reservations, and provide personalized recommendations based on player preferences.

The report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• Carr Golf
• Celtic Golf
• Direct Golf Holidays (MDL Group Travel & Leisure SL)
• Golf Tours International Ltd
• Golfasian Co. Ltd.
• Golfbreaks Ltd.
• Liberty Golf Services
• Palatinate Group Limited
• PerryGolf Limited
• Premier Golf Tours Pty. Limited
• Scottish Golf Holidays Inc.

Golf Tourism Market Report Scope:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the global golf tourism market performed so far, and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What are the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the global golf tourism market?
• What is the impact of each driver, restraint, and opportunity on the global golf tourism market?
• What are the key regional markets?
• Which countries represent the most attractive golf tourism market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the type?
• Which is the most attractive type in the golf tourism market?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the service type?
• Which is the most attractive service type in the golf tourism market?
• What is the competitive structure of the global golf tourism market?
• Who are the key players/companies in the global golf tourism market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the golf tourism market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global golf tourism market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the golf tourism industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.