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Northern Ireland golf tourism has 'limitless' potential

10 Sep 2007

The potential for golf tourism in Northern Ireland is 'limitless', government minister Nigel Dodds has claimed.

Speaking to reporters at the Walker Cup in County Down, Mr Dodds said that there is substantial room for expansion in Northern Ireland's potentially lucrative golf tourism market.

The Walker Cup is the biggest event in the amateur golf calendar and was seen as a showcase for the potential of Northern Ireland to host major golfing occasions, BBC News reports.

Mr Dodds said: 'Northern Ireland needs to realise the full potential of golf tourism by encouraging some of the 60m golfers worldwide to holiday here.

'Statistics have shown that every £1 spent by a golfer is worth £15 to the local economy and because golfers care less about the weather than other travellers there is limitless potential to increase the golf tourism market.'

Tom McGrath, chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, echoed this sentiment, describing golf tourism as 'very important' and pointing out that golf visits rose by 58% between 2003 and 2006.

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