Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Drives New Ecosystem for Golf Sector

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The official strategy for expanding the national recreation and sports sector was formally addressed during a major gathering. Vietnam is actively seeking to build a more integrated golf tourism ecosystem by strengthening links between golf courses, travel companies, accommodation providers, airlines, and other tourism services, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Speaking at the Vietnam Golf & Leisure Awards 2026 ceremony on September 15, Nguyen Trung Khanh, chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, stated that golf tourism possessed significant room for development and had been identified as an important tourism product under the country’s latest tourism development framework. According to official data, Vietnam served 113 million domestic tourists in the first eight months of the year, marking a 6.6 percent increase on-year, while international arrivals reached 16 million, representing a 15 percent jump from the same period last year. Furthermore, golf tourism is highlighted in Resolution No.26/NQ-TW issued by the Politburo on August 22, which focuses on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector in the new era. International recognition has continually accompanied these efforts, as Vietnam was named Asia’s Best Golf Destination for the ninth consecutive year and World’s Best Golf Destination twice, achievements that were underscored by industry leaders.

Impact on Travellers

For international visitors and holidaymakers, the evolving ecosystem is structured to redefine how recreational journeys are planned and experienced across the nation. Rather than engaging in isolated sporting rounds, travellers are provided with seamless itineraries that bridge sport, leisure, and local culture. The integration of services ensures that visitors experience fluid transitions between premier sporting facilities, high-end hospitality venues, regional transportation networks, and wellness offerings. Enhanced collaborations among airlines, hoteliers, and course managers are expected to minimize logistical bottlenecks, allowing tourists to enjoy greater convenience and richer cultural immersion. Furthermore, the diversification of packages enables visitors to combine championship gameplay with culinary explorations, heritage tours, and coastal relaxation, thereby elevating the overall quality and depth of the holiday experience.

Industry Insights

Industry experts and organizational leaders have offered critical perspectives on the structural evolution of the sector. Peter Walton, CEO of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, noted that development should focus heavily on destination clusters, leveraging varied offerings to attract higher volumes of international guests. Rather than implementing a uniform model across all regions, growth strategies are tailored to the distinct characteristics and objectives of individual courses and localities. When organized and connected effectively, these networks improve capacity utilization, enhance revenue streams, and generate sustainable momentum for the broader trade. Additionally, local stakeholders are encouraged to deepen cooperation across sectors to ensure that economic benefits are distributed evenly among hospitality providers, transport operators, and community groups.

Practical Information

Implementation of the new framework relies heavily on coordinated operational practices across various provinces and cities. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism continues to collaborate with regional stakeholders to promote cross-sector partnerships, streamline promotional campaigns, and target key international feeder markets effectively. Golf facilities are urged to align their scheduling, maintenance cycles, and hospitality services with broader regional tourism calendars. Travelers and tour operators can access specialized resources and updates through official channels managed by tourism authorities and industry associations, facilitating better coordination of tee times, accommodation bookings, and regional travel logistics.

Comparison with Previous Policies or Developments

When compared with previous approaches, which often treated recreational sports as isolated leisure activities, the current framework places a much stronger emphasis on ecosystem integration and multi-sector synergy. Earlier initiatives primarily focused on individual course development and standalone marketing campaigns without deeply institutionalizing formal connections between airlines, accommodation networks, and cultural tourism operators. The inclusion of golf tourism as a spearhead economic sector within high-level national resolutions marks a distinct shift toward coordinated state-level backing. This modern approach seeks to transform fragmented sporting attractions into cohesive national destination clusters, ensuring long-term sustainability and higher value addition compared to past frameworks.