PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Tourism (DoT) said its Philippine Golf Experience (GolfEx) project hopes to position the Philippines as a premier golfing destination.

“It has been a long-held desire to bring golf and tourism together in a way that truly unlocks their potential,” Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said in a statement over the weekend.

She said the Philippines has more than a hundred world-class golf courses.

“What was needed was a deliberate effort to place golf within our broader national strategy, not only as a sport but also as an experience that brings together play and culture as well as community,” she added.

The DoT views golf tourism as a high-value and low-impact form of tourism that induces travelers to stay longer, spend more, engage deeply with the destination, and return.

The DoT launched GolfEx at Clark, Pampanga, which is itself an emerging golf and leisure hub.

“Clark is ready for the golf tournaments and all kinds of sports tournaments,” said Clark Development Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera. — Justine Irish D. Tabile