The Golf Industry Association (GIA) hosted a high-impact panel discussion on “Golf Tourism in India” during the Golf & Turf Summit 2025, held from 29–31 October at the prestigious Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club, Hyderabad. The event brought together leading voices from the golf, travel, and tourism sectors to chart a unified roadmap for India’s emergence as a premier global golf tourism destination.
In his keynote address, Mr Anirudha Seolekar, President of the Golf Industry Association (GIA), underscored the immense potential of golf tourism in India. He emphasised the need for a cohesive national strategy, greater global outreach, and robust public–private partnerships to enhance India’s visibility as a world-class golf destination.
“India’s blend of iconic courses, luxury hospitality, and diverse landscapes offers an unmatched opportunity to attract golf travellers from across the world. What’s needed now is a collaborative approach and consistent international promotion,” said Mr. Seolekar.
The session featured an engaging discussion among industry stalwarts, including Arun Iyer, Managing Director, My Golf Tours; Hon. Secretary, TAFI-WI & Committee Member, GIA; Lokesh Bettiah, Managing Director, Triway Travels & Vice President, TAAI; and Nikhil Jeet, Managing Director, Buzz Travel Marketing Pvt. Ltd. & DDP Group. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Hari Natarajan, CEO & Co-Founder, Teetime Ventures, who steered the conversation toward actionable strategies to boost inbound golf tourism and create stronger linkages between travel, sport, and hospitality sectors.
The panel outlined a comprehensive framework to harness India’s potential in the global golf tourism market—estimated to involve over 30 million international golf travellers. The discussion emphasised the need to curate integrated golf circuits and premium experiential itineraries in collaboration with leading golf clubs across India. Participants called for the appointment of dedicated tourism attachés for golf promotion at Indian consulates abroad, along with annual familiarisation tours for global golf tour operators. Country-specific roadshows supported by the Ministry of Tourism and extended Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) for golf tourism promotion were also proposed, alongside the need for simplified, time-bound approval mechanisms.
The session further recommended launching a Global Golf Tourism B2B Expo in India to foster international partnerships and cross-border collaboration, strengthening public–private partnerships with five-year development plans at national and state levels, and promoting grassroots golf through state-led festivals to build domestic participation. The panel also proposed appointing celebrity and professional golfers as brand ambassadors to promote India as a golfing destination and holding periodic stakeholder meetings across various states to ensure regional inclusivity and momentum.
The summit also featured an international showcase of cutting-edge innovations in golf course design and maintenance, including modern turf management systems, precision irrigation, eco-friendly machinery, and advanced golf equipment. These exhibits reinforced India’s readiness to embrace global best practices and technological excellence in golf infrastructure.
With world-class courses, exceptional hospitality, rising domestic participation, and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders, India is poised to become one of the world’s fastest-growing golf tourism markets. The GIA Golf & Turf Summit 2025 reaffirmed a shared commitment to drive this transformation through innovation, sustainability, and global partnerships.