RCGC, Taiheiyo tee off Japanese golf tourism in Sri Lanka

Wednesday, 1 October 2014 01:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Japanese - controlled NWS Holdings links Royal Colombo Golf Club and 17,000 - strong Japanese counterpart for reciprocal

RCGC Captain Michael Magala (left) and Taiheiyo President and CEO Shun Han exchange the historic agreement yesterday. Others From left: NWS Holdings Managing Director Vajira Malawana, NWS Holdings Chairman Takashi Igarashi, Taiheiyo Director Jiro Nonaka and Taiheiyo Coordinator Haru Tsunezumi are also present – Pic by Lasantha Kumara arrangement For the first time in Sri Lanka, a leading Japanese golf club and resorts, Taiheiyo Club, Tokyo has launched a landmark Reciprocal Membership Program with the Royal Colombo Golf Club Sri Lanka. Taiheiyo Club, founded in 1971, is a leader in Japan’s golfing world with a membership of over 17,000 and boasting 17 PGA standard courses across the country. The club operates another course in Hong Kong too. Taiheiyo Club President and CEO Shun Han, along with Taiheiyo Club Director Jiro Nonaka and Taiheiyo Club General Manager Masahiro Honma are in Sri Lanka to commemorate the launch of the program. They are joined by a five-member Japanese TV crew who will broadcast the event in Tokyo. The historic tie-up was sealed by Han and RCGC Captain Michael Magala at the Royal Golf Course yesterday. “This is a historic occasion between Sri Lanka and Japan. We can further boost bilateral ties via golf. This is a significant fillip to develop golf tourism,” Magala said. “I have no doubt that Sri Lanka will be the next golfing destination for Japan following this tie-up,” he added. Han said golf is a unique sport to promote Sri Lanka tourism and emphasized that the partnership comes hot on the heels of Japanese Premier Abe Shinzo’s historic visit Sri Lanka recently. The officials from the Taiheiyo Club, which has 17 courses in Japan, expressed confidence that hundreds of the club’s members will visit Sri Lanka to play golf. The Royal Colombo Golf Club is the only golfing facility in Colombo with a history of 130 years. The Membership Program between Taiheiyo and RCGC will create awareness amongst the 17,000 members of Taiheiyo Club Japan about Sri Lanka. Most importantly, the Taiheiyo Club members will be permitted to play on the RCGC course free of charge. In turn, RCGC members will enjoy the same benefit in Tokyo and moreover, the Japanese club will promote high profile players to visit Colombo. This program was the brainchild of NWS Holdings Chairman Takashi Igarashi who was instrumental in introducing the Taiheiyo Club to Sri Lanka. ”There is a huge opportunity to promote Gold Tourism in Sri Lanka, with its beauty and comfortable weather and lifestyle. I have long fostered a desire to bring wealthy Japanese tourists to Sri Lanka to enjoy this country and golf,” he said in a statement. The partnership between Taiheiyo Club and RCGC will provide a huge boost to the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, drawing affluent, high-spending Japanese visitors to the country. The support to boost golf tourism is yet another development initiative by Igarashi, who together with NWS Holdings has to date channelled approximately Rs. 40 billion to Sri Lanka from Japan into various sectors. Recently NWS Holdings introduced Sagawa Group of Japan to acquire 51% of Expo Lanka Holdings PLC for a total value of Rs. 11.2 billion. Takashi further states that his target is to bring in a sum of at least $ 500 million by the end of 2015.