Almost 3,000 tourists visit Aragon every year with the excuse of playing golf

The Spanish Golf Federation, through Next Generation European funds, has launched the Play Spain Golf project, an innovative initiative to combine sport and tourism in a sustainable way throughout the country. It has a strategic focus: to promote golf as a high-quality tourist experience with low environmental impact. At a national level, 95 golf courses have already signed up – almost half of those that exist in Spain – and the objective is to promote the discovery of lesser-known regions through golf, attracting national and international tourists interested in a comprehensive experience that combines sport, nature and local culture.

ARAGON, A TERRITORY WITH POTENTIAL

As explained in the Ordesa Room at the headquarters of the Government of Aragon, the community currently receives some 2,873 golf tourists a year, generating a direct economic impact of 6 million euros and creating 179 direct jobs. However, the figure represents only 0.7% of the national economic impact of golf in Spain, which demonstrates the room for growth for the region.

One of the pillars of the project is precisely sustainability. In Aragon, this could translate into the development of facilities that respect the natural environment and promote the local economy, expanding the community’s tourist offer and attracting a public with greater purchasing power. Digitalisation and communication are also being given priority.

The president of the Aragonese Golf Federation, José María Dehesa, has assured that this sport can be a great ambassador for Aragon. “Golf tourism is also quality tourism. And it is a backbone. Of every eight euros spent in the world of golf, seven go elsewhere: to restaurants, taxis, hotels…”, Dehesa has maintained.

DESEASONALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

One of the great advantages of golf in the tourism sector is its ability to de-seasonalise visits, extending the influx of tourists beyond the summer and winter peaks. This is especially relevant for Aragon, where tourist activities are concentrated in the snowy season and summer holidays.

In terms of sustainability, “Play Spain Golf” is committed to ensuring that all participating courses work on water conservation and the use of renewable energy, as well as integrating nature and culture into the golf experience. These efforts are key for Aragon, which has vast natural spaces and a very rich cultural heritage. The project also includes the digitalisation of services to improve the visitor experience and facilitate the promotion of the courses through online platforms.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GOLF

The second report on the Economic Impact of Golf in Spain states that thanks to this sector, approximately 1.4 million foreigners visit Spain every year, with a direct economic impact of 800 million euros, which, when all related sectors are added together, could reach 16 billion euros. This type of tourism is characterised by generating high spending and encouraging long stays, which greatly benefits the local economy.

For Aragon, promoting this activity would mean increasing tourism spending in rural and urban areas, supporting job creation and economic revitalization of the region. Taking 2022 as a reference, golf tourism in Spain grew by 17% , and Aragon was one of the regions that benefited from this trend, positioning itself as a key destination.

DGA PRESENCE

The presentation was led by the Director General of Tourism at the DGA, Jorge Moncada, who thanked the Play Spain Golf organisation for choosing Zaragoza. “I wanted to thank you for choosing Zaragoza for this presentation. It is a very interesting combination to have obtained Next Generation Funds to combine tourism and golf,” said Moncada.

The Director General of Sports, Cristina García, also attended and highlighted Play Spain Golf as a “very interesting” project. “We are clear that sport, sustainability and tourism go hand in hand. Sport is a transversal element with a significant economic impact . We cannot turn our backs on it and it is clear to us that golf is a very important asset,” García said.