| The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is teaming up with leading tour operators to attract Malaysian golf enthusiasts to the resort island of Phuket, where tourism has been flagging since the December tsunami.
Driven by the need to revive the island's tourism fortunes, the TAT's Kuala Lumpur office joined hands with Benoa Tourplan to lead a delegation of Malaysian golfers to take part in a Phuket-based tournament last week.
Known for its high purchasing power, the golfing market is a niche market which the TAT is particularly keen to attract, particularly as golfers generally bring their families with them.
According to Miss Sommat Siriwong, director of the TAT's Kuala Lumpur office, the Malaysian participants in last week's contest have praised both the beauty of Phuket, the challenging nature of the golf courses and the high level of service.
"In the eyes of Malaysian golfers, golf courses in Thailand, including those in Phuket, are of top quality", she said.
Last year around 1.4 million Malaysians visited Thailand, of whom 10-20 percent were golfing enthusiasts.
By: MCOT, Thailand
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