International Golf Travel Market celebrated its 10th Anniversary recently by highlighting its global appeal as the leading golf travel show.

Held at the Cancun Convention Centre, the show hosted exhibitors and buyers from over 55 countries, including Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and the Czech Republic, along with key European destinations.

IGTM is recognised as one of the most important events in the golf travel industry calendar, representing a unique opportunity for specialised buyers and suppliers of golf-related products to present, discuss and define industry trends. The show has proved to be a prolific ground for new business; more than 4,500 pre-scheduled appointments were held between the buyers and exhibitors during the three-day event.

After Cancun’s record draw for the show, the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Mexico Tourist Board have now handed over IGTM 2008 to Andalucía, and early indications show that 2008 is already set to be a record year, due to both the continued growth in golf tourism and the number of stands already re-booked for 2008.

Feedback from the show underlined IGTM’s presence in the global golf calendar. Alistair Tod, from New Zealand’s luxury operator Greenfernz, said: “The show has been a great way for us to promote New Zealand as a golfing destination to accredited buyers from across the world. The golf market reflects today's tourism with everyone looking for something new, and New Zealand epitomises what golf is all about – stunning scenery, award-winning courses and hospitality beyond compare.”

Concluding on the feedback from the exhibition, Mark Walsh, group exhibition director of International Golf Travel Market, commented: “The choice to come back to the Americas in 2007 has been well received and is reflected in the number of different destinations who joined us. Our return to Europe next year once again is sure to go beyond buyers’ and exhibitors’ expectations.”