Thailand is a making a play to become a leading golf tourism destination, giving Spain a run for its money.  Mark Siegel, principal of Golfasian, says the country’s golf tourism has increased to an estimated 750,000 arrivals in 2012, up 50 percent in the past three years.

“The past year and the high season now ending have been quite amazing,” said Seigel. “For the first time in several years there was no impediment to Thailand’s huge international appeal; no floods, political unrest or local economic issues.

Siegel predicts the number of annual incoming golf tourists to Thailand will hit the 1 million mark by 2015, putting it on equal footing with Spain, which has dominated the international golf tourism industry for more than a decade.

While some of the increase is due to repeat visitors who discover Thailand’s golf course and return year after year, golf purveyors and resorts are also increasing their marketing efforts to attract international golfers, including travelers from the United States.

“We are starting to see U.S. golfers,” Siegel said. “After four years of attending the PGA Show, there’s an acknowledgement that Thailand exists as a golf destination.”

You may also like:

Phuket: Lucky Break

Bangkok: Night and Day