Spain Golf – Infinitum is hosting the 2023 Copa S. M. El Rey

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Infinitum Lakes Golf Course. Infinitum Lakes hosts Spain’s International Amateur Men’s Championship

Infinitum Lakes hosts the 2023 Copa S. M. El Rey

The famous Copa S. M. El Rey is currently taking place at one of the stunning Infinitum golf courses, in Catalonia. The popular amateur event started on February 28th and it will end on March 5th.

The 2023 edition of Spain’s International Amateur Men’s Championship, which has previously been held at stunning golf courses like El Saler, Real Sevilla, and Real Sotogrande, is being held at Infinitum Lakes.

This year’s Copa S.M. El Rey is being held in the Infinitum resort because of its stellar reputation as a premier event location, which was cemented in April 2022, when the resort’s Lakes course hosted the DP World Tour‘s ISPS Handa Championship, which ended up being won by the popular Spanish golfer Pablo Larrazábal.

Since 2017, Infinitum has also played host to the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, with last year’s event being dramatically won by Swedish golfer Simon Forsström over the course of six days.

The Costa Dorada venue has recently announced the hiring of a new director of golf, Joaquin Mora Bertrán, who will be responsible for overseeing all golf operations at Infinitum, including the resort’s three golf courses, two clubhouses, and golf academy.

Mora commented following his hiring, “I am happy to be chosen the new head of golf at Infinitum, a prestigious resort in a lovely region of Spain”.

“My goal is to provide golfers with a world-class experience at a venue with one of Europe’s best amenities. We are hosting the Copa S.M. El Rey, and we couldn’t be more excited!”, Mora concluded.

Book your golf holidays in Costa Dorada with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy one of the best regions to play golf in Europe.

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Portugal Golf – Golf generated record revenues in Portugal in 2022

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Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course. Golf generates record revenues in Portugal.

Green fees generated record revenues in Portugal last year

In counter cycle with the peaks in tourism demand, golf is preparing for its first high season of year, which starts in March and lasts until May. With the great revenues obtained in 2022 following the interregnum imposed by the pandemic, there is reason for confidence.

Revenues from golf in Portugal hit a record high of 154 million euros in 2022, a 6 percent rise from 2019, the last year before the pandemic, thanks to a total of 3 million rounds played. However, the actual effect of the sport on the Portuguese economy is expected to be far greater.

“The 154 million euros are only from green fees, not from any additional purchases made while at the golf course. rental of buggies, provision of meals, and teaching of related skills are only a few examples of the many businesses revolving around this sport”, says Frederico Brion Sanches, board member of the National Council of the Golf Industry (CNIG).

Foreign tourists are the main ones responsible for record revenues in the country, representing 80 percent of the rounds played last year. It is in the Algarve that the international market assumes greater weight (92 percent) with the British and Irish in the majority, followed by the Scandinavians and France.

“Playing four or five times throughout a week in Portugal is the norm for visitors from other countries. Non-Portuguese players are responsible for a significantly greater number of rounds compared to their Portuguese counterparts”, as Brion Sanches puts it.

Portugal has made the first step in establishing itself as a golf destination, and the country’s worldwide accolades enable it to compete with its key competitors, like Spain or Italy.

In 2019, for the sixth year in a row, Portugal has been named Europe’s Best Golf Destination by the World Golf Awards, and it has also been chosen as Europe’s Best Golf Destination by the World Travel Awards five times.

Frederico Brion Sanches thinks the industry has a lot to develop, but he cautions that more flights, more destinations, better air connections, and more convenient schedules are all essential, and defends an air bridge between Lisbon and the Algarve.

The lack of human resources, transversal to all areas of tourism, is another of the challenges pointed out by Brion Sanches, along with sustainability.

“Last but not least, we should expand our efforts to promote Portugal as a golf holiday destination. We are talking about more marketing campaigns and the constant promotion of Portugal as a golf destination”, he concludes.

Book your golf holidays in Portugal with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy some of the best golf courses in Europe.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Portuguese Vítor Lopes equals the world record for eagles in one golf round
Ángel Ayora wins the 93rd Portuguese International Amateur Golf Championship
Calendar of the World Corporate Golf Challenge Portugal 2023

Portugal Golf Holidays – Madeira recognized as a sustainable destination

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Madeira Island. Madeira recognized as a sustainable tourist destination

Madeira won EarthCheck’s Silver Award

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture announced that EarthCheck, an international certifying authority in this sector, has granted the Autonomous Region of Madeira with the Silver award, recognising it as a “sustainable tourism destination”.

Madeiran in-charge secretary Eduardo Jesus told that the award “reinforces the presentation of Madeira as a tourism destination with an emphasis on sustainable development”.

This certification, Eduardo Jesus said, is of the highest significance because it “responds to the concerns of customers” and “will have implications not just for those who visit, but also for those who reside in Madeira”.

According to Eduardo Jesus, “sustainability is a journey, a process of continual development”, which is why “every year, the region will illustrate, in its annual audit, the progress and evolution in this journey and dedication to the four pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, cultural, and social”.

The sustainable development of the territory and the engagement of the entire local community “is a crucial step in the affirmation of Madeira as a must-visit destination at a worldwide level”, he remarked.

The Madeira Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture’s Directorate of Tourism began the certification procedure towards the end of July 2021.

There is more good news: within five years, the region could receive a higher level of EarthCheck certification: Gold.

Nomadays, the Madeira region has 3 spectacular golf courses: 2 in Madeira Island and 1 in Porto Santo, and counts with several outstanding and glamorous hotels. Besides golf, the main attractions of the region are the dazzling natural landscapes, the capital Funchal, and the traditional gastronomy.

Book your golf holidays in Madeira with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy some of the best golf courses in Portugal.

You can also read other posts about Portugal Golf Holidays:
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