Indian Golf and Turf Expo (IGTE) 2019 Targets Revenue of Rs100 cr Through Golf Tourism in Next Five Years

England’s Peter Walton, President & Chief Executive, IAGTO - The Global Golf Tourism Organisation; and Austrailians Bruce MacPhee, Senior Agronomist, and Mike Orloff, Managing Director, Golf Industry Central and Arjun Chowdri, Chief Innovation Officer, PGA of America are some of the leading lights of the global Golf industry from among 500 delegates, who will attend the 8thIndian Golf and Turf Expo (IGTE) 2019. South Asia’s largest Golf Industry Trade Show is scheduled to be held at New Delhi’s Thyagraj stadium on April 26-27, 2019. The IGE returns to the national capital after last year’s seventh edition was held in Bengaluru.

In a welcome edition, this year’s expo has also involved professionals from Polo, Soccer and Cricket, given the golf industry globally has the highest experience in maintaining Turf & therefore these sports where top quality turf is an imperative, can benefit from world’s best turf technologies which will be on exhibit.

Speaking at the formal launch of the event, Suman Billa (IAS), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India has long identified Golf as a potential tourism booster and has taken several measures including developing more public courses to grow and promote the sport in the country. I thank all partners in making IGE a success over the years and look forward to the 2019 edition.”

Rishi Narain, former Asian Games Gold medalist also stated that “The Golf Industry Association has set a target to generate revenue of INR 100 crs in next five years through Golf tourism.” 

IGTE 2019 will see around 50 domestic and international exhibitors display their products along with conferences by eminent speakers, golf simulators to hone golf skills, putting and snag golf competitions, networking lunches, evening cocktails and gala dinner. About 37 Golf clubs from all over the country have also confirmed their participation.

Leading global brands like Toro, Rainbird, Club Car and Yamaha will also be exhibiting their latest technology and machinery at the show, it was revealed.

Among those who attended the launch event where Shaji Prabhakaran, President, Football Delhi and Samir Suhag, resident player cum coach, La Pegasus Polo centre, Gurugram and one of India’s all time best Polo players.

Deepali Shah Gandhi, President, Golf Industry Association (GIA), promoters of IGTE, was also present on the occasion and said, “On behalf of the GIA, I would like to thank Mr. Suman Billa and through him the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for their continued encouragement and support to IGTE, which has now become a must-attend for the entire Golf ecosystem in the country. The IGE brings together all key partners and contributors to the sport, whose tireless efforts have enabled stars like Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shubhankar Sharma to name a few, make a name for themselves. The GIA heartily welcomes all delegates and foreign guests to the IGTE 2019 and hope they have a fruitful time at the expo.”

Other key golf industry bodies represented at IGE 2019 include the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) and the Golf Course Superintendents and Managers Association of India (GCSMAI). The event is also supported by Incredible India.

The IGTE gained special recognition when the prestigious R&A of St. Andrews, Scotland, the global governing body of Golf, brought an official delegation to the show in 2018.

Day two of the show also hosts a Golf Course Superintendents and Manufacturer Association of India(GCSMAI) seminar, a highlight of the show where best practices and procedures of maintaining best-in-class Golf Courses are discussed and shared.

The expo concludes with an annual awards dinner, where previously achievers of the game such as Jeev Milkha Singh, Rohtas Singh, Ali Sher and Aditi Ashok among others have been honoured. Courses and organisations who have made large contributions towards golf like Pawan Munjal have also been honoured at the awards night.

India has over 240 golf courses in the country and about 150,000 individuals play the game across age groups. Over the past five plus years, India has attracted over INR 5000 crores of investment in the game and the IGTE is focused upon significantly growing that number in the year’s to come.