With more than 100 goal fieldsf spread throughout its territory, Andalusia has established itself as one of the most important destinations for lovers of this sport in Europe. The provinces of Málaga and Cádiz lead the ranking, concentrating most of the supply and monopolizing some of the best facilities in the country.
Golf in Andalusia has its first references at the end of the 19th century, linked to the British community that worked in the mines of Riotinto (Huelva). There, in 1890, the North Lode Golf Club. Interest in this sport grew as tourism increased until it became what it is today, an important pillar of the Andalusian economy with a global impact that amounts to 5,456 million euros.
According to the second report on the Economic Impact of Golf in Spain, carried out by IE University, Andalusia accounts for approximately 34% of the total economic impact of golf in Spain, which reaches 16 billion euros.
Golf tourism as an economic engine Andalusia annually receives 700,000 golf touristswhich represents 2% of the total tourists who visit the region. Of these, 417,000 are high-intensity golf tourists, while the rest participate in golf-related activities as a complement to their stay.
A flow of tourists generates a direct impact on the local economyespecially in sectors such as hospitality, transport and restaurants, since the average expenditure is notably higher than that made by other travelers.
Specifically, the direct expenditure generated by international golf tourism in Andalusia reached 1,757 million euros in 2024. Golf tourists spend an average of 352 euros per day, of which 85% benefits complementary sectors such as accommodation, restaurants and transportation, underlining the importance of golf as a driver of other local industries. Regarding the profitability of the golf courses, the Andalusian courses invoiced 304 million euros in 2024with an average of 3.1 million euros per management company.
Golf boosts real estate investment
Golf is also driving real estate investment in the region, with an estimated €602 million annually. Andalusia currently has 123,400 homes owned by golf tourists, which represents a total updated value greater than 30.1 billion euros. This real estate investment contributes to consolidating Andalusia as a preferred destination for golf tourists, who not only enjoy its courses, but also invest in the region.
The goal has also established itself as an important employment enginelast year the Andalusian golf courses created 3,975 direct positionsof which 94% are full-time and with indefinite contracts. Furthermore, if indirect and induced jobs related to golf tourism are added, the total rises to 51,000 jobs, which represents 38.6% of the national total.
PlaySpain.Golf is born
In order to combine the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the goal sector in Spain, PlaySpain.Golfa project presented by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Spanish Association of Golf Courses and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation that unites the entire golf offer Spanish on a single website, facilitating access to the fields of Andalusia.
During the presentation of the new portal, the results of the report prepared by the University of Cádiz on water use on golf coursesdemonstrating the sector’s commitment to sustainability both nationally and in Andalusia, where efficient water management is essential for the activity of golf courses and their integration into the natural environment.
He commitment to sustainability It is also one of the key characteristics of the golf sector in Andalusia. The region is on track to become the first in Spain to have 100% of its golf courses irrigated with regenerated watera practice that is already applied in 70% of the fields in dry coastal Spain.
This commitment to water efficiency has a positive economic impact, with a profitability of 147 euros for each cubic meter of water consumed, which demonstrates the sector’s ability to be sustainable and profitable at the same time. Andalusia, a benchmark for golf tourism in Spain The data show that golf in Andalusia is not only a tourist attraction, but a key driver for the local economy, job creation and sustainability.
With these figures, Andalusia is positioned as a benchmark in the golf offer in Spain, thanks to its infrastructure, its commitment to sustainability and the constant growth of golf tourism.
The Secretary General for Tourism, Yolanda de Aguilar, has highlighted that this exhaustive study “reveals the relevance of the golf tourism segment as an economic engine and its ability to generate wealth and employment in a sustainable way”, being a fundamental product of tourism, “a catalyst for development and generating benefits in more than 80 different branches of production”.
For his part, Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, highlighted “the good health of the sector in Andalusia, which is reflected in that “photo” resulting from the update of the economic impact report, to which we also added the data from the Water report that also demonstrates that we are doing things well from the point of view of the consumption of regenerated water.”
And finally Santiago Urquijo, general secretary of the Spanish Association of Golf Courses “the effort that is being made by the sector to share with society the triple social, environmental and economic sustainability of a sector that contributes much more than many believe.
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