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A new drive to attract golfers in
China to play on
the top courses in Scotland has been launched.
Golf has become a boom sport in China and the number of courses
there is expected to almost double this year.
First Minister Jack McConnell said he admired China's growing
love of golf, but said "a golfer who never plays in Scotland is a
golfer unfulfilled".
Chinese tourism could be worth about £70m to Scotland over the
next four years, it has been estimated.
Restrictions on Chinese tourists travelling to the UK were
removed last year.
Target market
The move to attract golfers on the back of this has also been
supported by tourism body Visit Scotland.
British Airways has teamed up with three Chinese golf travel
partners, offering stays at courses including
St
Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Mr McConnell said: "The whole world is trying to target the
massive Chinese tourism market that is opening up.
"We need to play to our strengths and golf is certainly one of
them. The sport is hugely popular in China at the moment and I know
that a trip to Scotland will appeal to many Chinese golfers."
'Fantastic' facilities
Tourism from golf, played by 57 million people worldwide, is
worth £300m to the Scottish economy.
Visitors to Scotland's golf courses, of which there are more than
540, spend on average twice that of other tourists.
The first minister said: "There is something special about
playing at the home of golf. The Chinese have a strong attachment to
traditions and history and I know that the birth place of golf will
hold a very strong appeal."
In 2005 the UK was opened to Chinese tourists with Approved
Destination Status and the World Tourism Organisation has predicted
that tourist trips from China will increase to 100 million by 2020,
creating a market worth more than £100bn.
St.Andrews Old Course Hotel and
Rusacks Hotel have also signed up to the deal.
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