A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddarparu gwybodaeth am y broses gaffael a ddilynwyd wrth benodi asiant cyflenwi ar gyfer Twristiaeth Golff Cymru a pha sefydliadau a wahoddwyd i dendro am y gwaith?
Following the success of the promotion of Wales as a golf tourism destination before, during and after the 2010 Ryder Cup, discussions have been taking place with golf industry stakeholders across Wales to develop a representative industry body to inform and support the Welsh Government efforts, led by Visit Wales, to continue to encourage golf tourists to choose Wales and to secure support from the sector to maintain momentum and safeguard the future promotion and growth of Golf in Wales.
Despite agreement that an industry body was required, numerous meetings, full and open engagement with the sector across Wales, including clubs, Wales Golf, tour operators and other representative bodies involved in the market, dating back to 2012, no pan Wales solution or lead partner was forthcoming.
In 2019 Visit Wales was formally approached by Andrew Cooke, who set up and established Golf Tourism England, proposing the establishment of “Golf Tourism Wales” as an industry representative body open to all in the sector across Wales on a membership basis. The aim of establishing Golf Tourism Wales as an independent member led industry representative body was to unite and co-ordinate the golf tourism industry across Wales in order to support and supplement the promotion of Wales as a golf destination and not displace any existing services.
Following further discussions with both Golf Tourism Wales and sector representatives Visit Wales indicated that if the sector itself backed Golf Tourism Wales it would support its establishment by match funding the membership contributions made by the industry in year one in the first instance.
23 members have joined Golf Tourism Wales from across Wales, including seven clubs from North Wales, generating income of £11,350 which Visit Wales has agreed to match following internal procurement and compliance procedures and based on agreed targets. Progress against those targets will be assessed at the end of the financial year by Visit Wales and no doubt the members of Golf Tourism Wales will also review progress and the value of their membership.
It remains open for any industry stakeholder to join Golf Tourism Wales andrew@golftourismwales.com.