The CIMB Asia-Pacific Classic golf championship, to be held at Seri Kembangan's Mines and Golf and Country Resort next week, will help promote Malaysia and its golf courses to the world, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said the championship, which offers US$6.1 million (RM19.52 million) in prize money, would be broadcast over United States' golf channels and was expected to yield returns in terms of promotions and advertisements investments worth more than a hundred times more. She said the tournament was also expected to attract more than 30,000 spectators both regionally and globally, as it featured an impressive line-up of 48 world class golfers.
"In order for the government to achieve its target of RM3 billion per week of revenue from the tourism industry by year 2020, the industry players have to move into new playing fields that offer higher yields and long-stay products. So golf naturally falls into that category. We have to let people know that Malaysia is the best place to play golf and that is why the ministry is in support of this championship as it involves the PGA, which is a world renowned brand in golf," she said during the championship's press conference here Thursday.
She said due to the tournament, 365 golf packages (to play golf in the country) had been sold by various operators in countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. "It is RM1.2 million worth of packages sold and I am made to understand that the hotels nearby (the venue) are full," she said, adding that the tournament also gave an opportunity to local golfers to make their mark besides world class golf for local fans to savour .
Among the big names scheduled to compete in the event arer defending champion Ben Crane of the US, Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela), Camilo Villegas Spain), Vijay Singh (Fiji), Angel Cabrera (Argentina) and Stewart Cink (US). Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Jeev Milka Singh (India) are among the top Asians in the fray.
Malaysia's challenge will be shouldered Danny Chia and Shaaban Husin, both of whom currently play on the Asian Tour. The tournament will be held from Oct 27 to 30.
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