KOTA KINABALU, 18 April 2016 – International and local amateur golfers are all geared up to compete in the second qualifying round of the World Amateur Inter Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) 2016 in Kota Kinabalu.

Teams from Australia, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia are participating in the four-day event, which kicked off today at the Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club.

Designed by Ted Parslow, the 6,197-metre par 72 course is 35km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, nestled in the heart of the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. The 18-hole wetlands course is bordered by the Mengkabong and Tambalang rivers, with the former mangrove swamp offering an interesting terrain that will test the skills of golfers.

The second qualifying round will continue at the Borneo Golf Resort, which is designed by Jack Nicklaus. Spread over 200 acres on a 900-acre site, the natural features of the lagoon and surrounding terrain is played up to emphasise the water hazards as well as the wastelands and bunkers, giving a strong character to the “Golden Bear” Course.

The first qualifying round of WAITGC 2016 took place in Johor last month. After Sabah, the subsequent three qualifying rounds will take place at six different golf courses in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak.

Golf tourism has been identified as one of the key priority projects to increase the nation’s tourism contribution to the economy, and has in fact been underscored in the country’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Last year, golf tourism receipts amounted to RM319 million, a significant contribution to Malaysia’s economy.

Since its debut in 1994, WAITGC has emerged as one of the most highly anticipated golfing events in the region. Organised by Tourism Malaysia, it attracts more than 500 participants every year. The homegrown event not only tests the golfing skills of the participants but also encourages them to discover the many colourful cultures and traditions in Malaysia, as well as the country’s delectable cuisines and fascinating tourist attractions.

WAITGC is managed by the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM) and sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association.For more information, please contact the WAITGC secretariat at 03-5633 2079/5634 2078 or visit www.waitgc.com.

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2015, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM69.1 billion in receipts.

Through the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area), collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination and achieve the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020.

The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:
Shukri Hanafiah, Senior Deputy Director, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8767
Email: shukrihanafiah@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:
Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my