A MAJOR drive to entice golfers to Scotland will get under way this year in a bid to boost the money spent by tourists visiting the home of the sport.

Golfers from overseas already spend £286 million a year in Scotland, and are high spenders, paying 4.5 times more per day than a regular tourist. For every £1 they spend on the sport, another £5 goes towards hotels, eating out or other attractions.

However, industry leaders are aiming to increase the value of golf tourism to £300m by 2020 and will host a week-long event bringing buyers and tour operators to Scotland to attract more business.

It is the second Scottish Golf Tourism Week to take place and it is thought that the event will result in more than 3,500 meetings between tour operators and golf-related businesses.

The week-long event is being organised by PSP Media Group, which is also behind the Scottish Golf Show.

Tom Lovering, commercial director at PSP Media, said it was a way to give more Scottish businesses – some of whom would not have the resources to attend events abroad – better access to global tour operators and buyers.

He said: “Scotland is the first country in the world to bring golf tourism businesses and global buyers together on home soil, allowing an outstanding golfing product to speak for itself.

"We are determined to support the drive to grow Scotland’s golf industry, increasing the 220,000 golf tourists who come to Scotland annually.

“Scottish businesses are offered the chance to exhibit on an individual basis at the event, where they have the opportunity to meet each of the buyers face-to-face.

"For some of the smaller businesses, this is a unique opportunity to engage with key tour operators at an event of this scale.”

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said last year's event had provided a new way to engage with global golf tour operators.

He said: "This year’s event will be even larger, with the potential for up to 3,500 business meetings, as well as familiarisation trips for over 70 tour operators coming to Scotland from Scandinavia, North America, Europe and Asia.”

Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop added: "This event plays a key role in our drive to firmly establish Scotland as the world’s leading golf destination.

"As a whole, the Scottish golf industry is worth more than £1.1 billion per year, supporting more than 20,000 jobs, with golf tourism contributing £286m but even so, we know there is huge potential for growth.

"Our Driving Forward Together’ strategy is the roadmap for achieving golf tourism growth in Scotland, reaching £300m by 2020.”