Golf's Singha Thailand Open at Laguna Phuket Lauded

The success of the high profile Thailand Open held at Laguna over the weekend has shown how events of this caliber assist in promoting the destination. Back of an impressive array of regional television and print media exposure and mention in the international sporting press; this type of event goes a long way in assisting the tourism market recover.
India's Jyoti Randhawa won the event with an impressive under 17 under par for the tournament with prize money of approximately US$80,000. Comments from the international and Thai players were extremely complimentary of the destination and with Phuket. For those viewing the event on TV, the reinforcement of the islands image and appeal was wide ranging.
Laguna's Destination Marketing and Event team have established a number of successful high profile sporting events including the triathlon held each December and marathon upcoming in June. With the absence of a large scale dedicated provincial marketing arm for the tourism industry it's good to see the private sector step up and help give support in the current challenging marketplace.