Golfers prefer the flexibility of half-board hotel packages to all-inclusive deals, new research for International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) reveals.
Almost 10,000 golfers quizzed
The survey, commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of IGTM, is based on responses from more than 9,500 regular golfers in Europe’s four largest golf markets – UK & Ireland (UK&I), Scandinavia, Germany and France.
The research found that half-board accommodation was the number one choice for golfers from Germany (35.5%), Scandinavia (32.9%) and UK&I (28.3%).
French golfers love an all-in holiday
However, French golfers said they preferred all-inclusive deals (27.7%), the second choice of golfers in the other three markets.
The research, produced by SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC., highlighted other variations in consumer behaviour.
German golfers are the most likely to stay in five-star accommodation (36.5%), followed by French golfers (24%), British and Irish (22.8%) and Scandinavians (18.4%).
However, German golfers are the least likely to stay in on-course hotels (25.8%), although they do stay closest to the course – 13 minutes’ drive, on average.
Scandinavian golfers tend to stay on-course wherever possible (45.9%), compared to 33.9% of British and Irish golfers and just 27% of French golfers.
Hotels remain the most popular form of accommodation for golf travellers (Germans 76.5%, Scandinavians 64.8%, French 64.4% and UK&I 55%).
However, British and Irish golfers were the happiest to stay in ‘bed-and-breakfast’ style accommodation with 14.7% reporting this option for their most recent golf break, compared to 6.4% of French golfers, 4.2% of German golfers and 3.7% of Scandinavians.
IGTM Exhibition Manager, Peter Grimster, said: “While it is interesting that we have seen a rise in all-inclusive golf packages, especially in destinations such as Belek, Turkey, half-board hotel packages remain prevalent in Europe.
“Destinations and hotels should take note of different customers’ wants and needs. While it is well documented that golf tourists spend more on average than typical leisure tourists, a variety of accommodation and price points are required depending on which regional markets a destination is targeting.”
For more information about IGTM, please visit: www.igtm.co.uk