After a one-year hiatus, IAGTO has announced that the ninth edition of its Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) will take place in the Japanese prefecture of Miyazaki in April 2021.
The event, taking place from 20-22 April, 2021, provides an opportunity for golf tour operators from around the world to meet with golf resorts, golf courses, hotels and other golf tourism suppliers from across the Asia Pacific region and to experience the incredible year-round golf destination of Miyazaki on Kyushu Island in southern Japan. Tour operators will arrive on 17 April for three days of golf before the convention gets under way on 21 April with golf inspection trips to other parts of Japan beginning two days later.
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “After skipping a year due to Covid-19, we are really excited to have this opportunity to reconvene the convention in the iconic and magical golf destination of Miyazaki, just three months before the rescheduled Olympics.
“Having staged a number of familiarisation tours and events in Japan since 2010, we know that there is enormous interest in the country from golf tour operators and their discerning clients. For decades, Miyazaki has been very well known as a tremendous golf destination domestically and now, thanks to the support of the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, we will be able showcase the destination to the world, just as all eyes turn to Japan.”
AGTC 2021 will take place at the Phoenix Seagaia Resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean just 20 minutes from Miyazaki Airport. The resort’s 27-hole Phoenix Country Club has hosted the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament every year since 1974. Past champions include Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, a youthful Seve Ballesteros and, more recently, Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.
At an announcement in Miyazaki City on 13 July, the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kouno Shunji, said: “We are delighted and honoured to hear that Miyazaki has been selected to host the AGTC 2021. Since Miyazaki Prefecture has plenty of great golf courses and is blessed with a warm climate that makes for great golfing all year round, we stage a number of pro tournaments and receive thousands of golf visitors every year. We very much look forward to seeing everyone at AGTC 2021!”
Walton added: “In the months ahead we will continue to closely track the course of and, hopefully, recovery from, Covid-19 around the globe and we will implement all necessary precautions that may still be required next year.”