THE ASIA Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC), which succesfully debuted in Kuala Lumpur in April, has accepted Thailand's invitation to take the event to Pattaya in 2013.

Ng Eu Shen, general manager of Liberty Golf Services and co-organiser of AGTC, told TTGmice e-Weekly that the Thai tourism authority had approached the UK-based International Association of Golf Tour Operators – owners of AGTC – after “observing the effectiveness of the convention”.

The inaugural AGTC was attended by 138 buyers from 100 golf tour operators in 38 countries, and business meetings were conducted between the buyers and 243 suppliers from 16 countries. Most of the suppliers were from Asia, with some coming from as far away as Fiji and Mauritius.

Buyers were also taken on familiarisation trips to popular Malaysian destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Malacca and Sabah.

Ng said: “Hosting the AGTC (in Malaysia) helped to raise the country’s profile for golf tourism, which is not so well known yet.”

The organisers aim to surpass 2012’s attendance figures during next year's AGTC, which is scheduled to run from April 29 to May 2.

The convention will be held on an annual basis and rotated around Asia.