237 Consejero Turismo 2.qxp_188 Golf El Puerto 24/10/16 15:57 Página 4
FRANCISCO JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ
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e interview the minister at Aloha Golf following the prizegiving ceremony for the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino – on the Ladies European Tour.
What do you think about the tournament? I think it was excellent, for the number of spectators, the image we presented on TV to numerous countries around the world, an image of the superb sunny weather we enjoy here, and also because we had a Spanish champion for the first time in the tournament’s history, a local player, an Andalucian who is in great form at the moment, and has a magnificent future ahead of her. So it was a brilliant tournament both in a sporting sense and in promoting Andalucía as a tourist destination. Does this sponsorship of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino mean the Junta de Andalucía is restoring its investment in major tournaments, or are there no plans to invest the major sums spent in the past – a few years ago – on such tournaments as the Volvo Masters and Andalucía Masters? Yes, we are planning to once again showcase Andalucía’s golf courses through major tournaments, with competitions that place us in
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“Golf will be one of the key aspects, both in easing the seasonal nature of tourism and as part of our complementary attractions for people visiting Andalucía” the global golf spotlight and have a significant impact, especially via TV broadcasts. What we want to ensure is maximum efficiency in eco-
PROTAGONISTS
nomic management and investment, and I believe that right now, at the current time, bringing championships here like the women’s Spanish Open, and the men’s Spanish Open we had back in April (at Valderrama), is an effective tool we can use to promote our tourist destination. Is your Tourism Marketing Plan for next year now finalised and, if so, how will it be used to promote golf? We are currently finalising the Marketing Plan for the next four years, from 2017 to 2020, as well as the Action Plan, and golf will have a major role. It will be one of the key aspects, both in easing the seasonal nature of tourism and as part of our complementary attractions for people visiting Andalucía. The Andalucian coastline has a great choice of golf courses, and there are also many interesting options inland. We want Andaluc, and we are going to
ANDALUCÍA – A GOLFING PARADISE With a total of 120 golf courses – including more than 70 on the Costa del Sol – Andalucía is a golfing paradise for players in Europe and elsewhere around the world. Thanks to its benign climate throughout the year, the quantity and quality of its golf courses, its cultural and culinary wealth, its historical heritage, its excellent hotel, air, road, sea and rail infrastructure, its incomparable leisure amenities and the friendliness of its people, the region attracts more than 26 million Spanish and foreign tourists every year, including hundreds of thousands of golfers who enjoy the game in short sleeves when, back in their home countries, harsh weather conditions prevent them from playing their favourite sport.
Sherry Golf Jerez
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