Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said on Tuesday, November 28, that the time has come for the government and the private sector to work hand in hand as the department positions the Philippines as a worldwide hub for sports tourism, including golf.

"Today marks the Philippines' long-overdue foray into the multibillion-peso golf tourism industry that will no doubt have an enormous impact on the Philippine economy. And it's about time that the government and the private sector come together to converge and collaborate," Secretary Frasco said in her message during the 1st Philippine Golf Tourism Summit.

The 1st Philippine Golf Tourism Summit aims to gather ideas, recommendations and concerns from major players in the Philippines' golf tourism industry.

The event seeks to understand the sector's issues and potential by interacting with golf course owners, tour operators, tourist officials, golfers, and golf associations.

Currently, the Philippines has over 100 golf courses all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with the oldest being Santa Barbara Golf Course in Iloilo Province, which was founded in 1907, making the Philippines home to one of Asia's oldest golf courses.

"Golf tourism represents a promising frontier for the Philippines, and this summit highlights our proactive approach to understanding, nurturing, listening to the golf tourism industry and developing this niche as part of our tourism industry portfolio," Frasco said.

"We are hopeful that this first Philippine Golf Tourism Summit can be a catalyst and serve as a platform to gather insights, recommendations and concerns, paving the way for informed decisions and strategies as well as a unified national government tourism policy towards golf tourism that can be aligned with our local government units all over the country," she added.

Business Mirror Golf Editor Mike Besa spoke about "The Potential of Golf Tourism," Outlast Sports and Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Salauddin SS spoke about "The Right Market," Philippine Tour Operator Association (Philtoa) President Fe Abling-Yu spoke about "First Tee with the Tourism Industry," and Batangas Vice Governor and founder of Golf Batangas Jose Antonio "Mark" Leviste 2nd spoke about "The Right Market."

The event was organized by the Office of Golf Tourism Product Development and Special Projects.