- The global golf tourism market is forecast to reach $29.5bn in 2026
- IGTM takes place from 19 to 22 October in Cannes
- Saudi Arabia exhibits through Golf Saudi for the first time
- Cyprus and the Dominican Republic are represented for the first time
- The GCC golf tourism market is forecast to grow from $2.2bn in 2025 to $4.1bn by 2035
Golf tourism is no longer confined to a handful of established destinations. According to Future Market Insights, the global golf tourism market is forecast to reach $29.5bn in 2026, and increasingly that growth is coming from destinations that would once have been considered off the beaten fairway. From the Gulf to the Caribbean, and from East Africa to East Asia, a new generation of destinations is investing in golf tourism and competing for the attention of international travellers.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the most closely watched golf destinations in the world. According to Future Market Insights, the GCC golf tourism market, driven largely by international visitors, is forecast to grow from $2.2bn in 2025 to $4.1bn by 2035. Golf Saudi exhibits at International Golf Travel Market for the first time in 2026, when the show returns to the Palais des Festivals, Cannes from 19 to 22 October. Golf Saudi’s stand showcases Riyadh Golf Club, Dirab Golf and Country Club, Shura Links and The National Golf Club at Qiddiya City.
Saudi Arabia’s arrival forms part of a broader wave of new destinations joining IGTM in 2026. Cyprus and the Dominican Republic are represented at the show for the first time, with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Cyprus exhibiting alongside Dominican Republic newcomers Puntacana Resort and Casa de Campo. Kenya’s YENGOLF and the Japan Golf Tourism Association also join the show for the first time, alongside fellow Japanese newcomer Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide, while VisitAberdeenshire brings a new corner of Scotland to the buyer community and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association introduces the wider region’s golf offering to IGTM.
Dalya Katoah shared “Exhibiting at IGTM for the first time is an important step in introducing Saudi Arabia’s golf offering to the international market. We have invested significantly in developing world-class golf destinations and experiences across Saudi Arabia, and IGTM gives us the opportunity to build relationships with tour operators and buyers who can help convert that investment into international golf visitation.”
