With its world-class golf courses, luxurious accommodation, and Mediterranean climate, golf tourism in Spain has established itself as a major industry. Over the past year, it has attracted 1.2 million visitors—a significant figure given that Europe has 4.2 million registered golfers. These visitors generate approximately €12.7 billion in annual revenue and enjoy extended stays, generally averaging 11.9 nights, well above the 7.4 nights typical of other travelers.
The figures, presented at the 1st Complutense Summer Course in San Lorenzo de El Escorial ‘Golf and sustainability’, confirm that sports resorts in Spain are consolidating as a major economic asset.
International golfers tend to spend more than the average tourist, with 85.6% of their expenditure directed towards tourism services and the remaining 14.4% on golf course fees. Their visits to Spain are particularly concentrated in the spring and autumn months, which is important because it helps to smooth out the seasonal peaks in the sector.
Golf as a Premium Tourism Product
The recognition of golf as a tourism product by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism in 2022 has opened new avenues for the sector. It has gained access to valuable dialogues with public authorities and eligibility for funding under the EU’s Next Generation Fund. This financial support has enabled the launch of the ‘Digital Green Spain: Digital Transformation and Local Integration of the Golf Experience in Spain’ initiative. This project involves three key areas: updating the sector’s socioeconomic data, conducting an environmental impact study to assess carbon footprints and water management practices of golf courses, and creating a comprehensive digital platform to bring together all golf-related services and facilities on a single website.
Led by organizations such as the Spanish Association of Golf Courses (AECG), the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG), the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation (RFGA), and the Spanish Association of Golf Managers (AEGG), ‘Digital Green Spain’ aims to tackle major sector challenges, particularly in environmental sustainability. Both local communities and golfers are calling for more efficient resource use and sustainable practices to protect the sport’s continuity without causing environmental degradation.
In this regard, progress is already evident. According to a study by the University of Cádiz, Spain leads globally in the percentage of golf courses using regenerated water for irrigation, and 92% of courses throughout the country have adopted techniques to reduce water consumption.
A prime example is Abama Resort Tenerife, which features its own desalination plant to conserve water reserves and employs an evapotranspiration irrigation system to minimize wastewater release. Additionally, the resort is replacing its grass with a highly durable variety designed to withstand drought conditions.
As Spain’s golf tourism sector faces global sustainability challenges, golf course planning continues to make substantial efforts to align with European sustainability goals. They aim to make their facilities be the frontrunners in environmental responsibility, growth, and overall success.
