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Award to Kenya elected Undiscovered Destination of the Year by Jussi Jaakonkari, IGTWA President in presence of His Excellency Mwakai Sio - Kenyan Ambassador to Spain, Tob Cohen, Chairman, Kenya Golf Marketing Alliance, Peter Walton, Chief Executive, IAGTO

The IAGTO Awards are the officia of our Honorary Award in tribute to the achievements of one extraordinary individual.” l annual awards for the golf tourism industry. The 2009 gala Awards evening took place on Thursday 20th November 2008 at the Estepona Congress and Exhibition Centre, Spain on the last day of the International Golf Travel Market.

IAGTO is the global trade organisation for the golf tourism industry, comprising more than 1130 companies in 74 countries, including over 330 specialist golf tour operators in 46 countries. IAGTO operators control more than 80% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide (outside of Asia ) and in 2007 their turnover exceeded €1 billion. IAGTO's Chief Executive, Peter Walton, said "The annual golf holiday is the highlight of the golfing year for many of the world's 50 million players, and the IAGTO Awards serve to reward a few exceptional contributions to this world of golf travel. There is certainly no shortage of candidates worthy of recognition. Many individuals, companies, organisations and destinations have excelled in delivering a great golfing experience to the golf traveller – the ultimate goal for all involved in golf tourism.

“The Awards serve also to encourage private and public sector organisations to work closely together in the development and promotion of new and existing golf destinations, making them accessible to and enjoyable by the widest range of golfers. Each year we recognise the performance of three of the world's leading Golf Resorts, the flagships of our industry, together with one outstanding golf destination in each of the following five regions:
- Asia & Australasia
- Africa, the Indian Ocean & the Gulf States
- Latin America & the Caribbean
- North America
- Europe
There is also an award for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year, voted for by members of the International Association of Golf Travel Writers, with over 100 member journalists from 27 countries. The ceremony culminates in the presentation

UNDISCOVERED GOLF DESTINATION OF THE YEAR :
Kenya (read more)

GOLF DESTINATION OF THE YEAR - AFRICA & GULF STATES :
Dubaï

GOLF DESTINATION OF THE YEAR - ASIA & AUSTRALASIA :
New Zealand

GOLF DESTINATION OF THE YEAR - LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN :
Jamaica

GOLF DESTINATION OF THE YEAR - NORTH AMERICA :
South Carolina

GOLF RESORT OF THE YEAR - EUROPE:
Le Meridien Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo (Spain)

GOLF RESORT OF THE YEAR - NORTH AMERICA :
Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Florida

GOLF RESORT OF THE YEAR - REST OF WORLD :
Half Moon (Jamaica)

IAGTO HONORARY AWARD :
José Maria Olazàbal

The next IAGTO awards will take place at the newt IGTM in Malaga (Spain), from 16 to 19 November 2009.

Kenya
Dubai

New Zealand


Dominican Republic
South
Carolina, Bloody Point
Andalucia (Quinta Marbella)



José Maria Olazàbal

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