Golf tourism is no longer confined to a handful of established destinations. According to Future Market Insights[1], the global golf tourism market is forecast to reach USD 29.5 billion in 2026, and increasingly that growth is coming from destinations that would once have been considered off the beaten fairway.
That shift is visible right across the map. 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 – nowhere more visibly than in the GCC, where 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 USD 2.2 billion in 2025 to USD 4.1 billion by 2035.
Saudi Arabia’s golf ambitions go global
That growth is now translating into a more visible presence on the international travel stage. Golf Saudi will exhibit at International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), organised by RX, for the first time in 2026, when the show returns to the Palais des Festivals, Cannes from 19-22 October, Saudi Arabia’s first appearance at the event.
Golf Saudi’s stand will also showcase Riyadh Golf Club, Dirab Golf & Country Club, Shura Links and The National Golf Club at Qiddiya City, presenting a unified Saudi delegation to the show’s international buyer community.
Dalya Katoah, Chief Marketing and Demand Officer at Golf Saudi, said: “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.”
New exhibitors span six continents
Saudi Arabia’s arrival forms part of a broader wave of new destinations joining IGTM in 2026. Cyprus and theDominican Republic will be 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.
“Saudi Arabia is a brilliant example of the geographical shift in the industry,” added Fiona Ashton, Event Manager, IGTM. “
Golf Saudi joining us as a new exhibitor in Cannes shows a destination that genuinely has everything: stunning courses, year-round sunshine and a rich cultural offering. It sits alongside the UAE and Qatar in building genuinely world-class golf infrastructure, and I think the region is moving from ‘emerging’ to ‘established’ in the minds of discerning golf travellers. We’re seeing that same appetite for discovery across this year’s new exhibitors more broadly, from the Caribbean to East Africa and East Asia, and IGTM is where those destinations get in front of the tour operators, travel agents and media who can bring them to a global audience.”
IGTM 2026 will once again bring together more than 300 golf tourism suppliers and over 300 pre-qualified buyers for four days of pre-scheduled appointments, networking and industry insight. This year also sees the launch of IGTM Discovery, the official expansion of IGTM, connecting golf clubs, resorts, facilities and retailers with suppliers across technology, equipment, apparel, accessories and club operations.
IGTM Discovery will also host the show’s first dedicated conference programme, the Golf Club Management Summit, with more than 30 sessions across three days exploring club management, technology, revenue generation, professional development and the future of golf.
www.igtmarket.com
1 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/golf-tourism-sector-overview
