The Algarve goes from strength to strength

The world-class holiday region of the Algarve is still on cloud nine after scooping the prestigious title of International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) European Golf Destination of the Year 2013.

The award was announced at the IAGTO Awards gala dinner, at Tarragona, Costa Daurada, Spain following the final day of the International Golf Travel Market.

Now the Algarve firmly has its sights fixed on re-claiming Today’s Golfer’s equally prestigious Best Value European Golf Destination in the popular annual TG Travel Awards.

With six courses in the recently released Golf World Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe, the Algarve continues to provide a heady mix of world-class layouts and value for money – a blend which was, no doubt, in the minds of more than 500 golf tour operators who voted in the awards.

Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Association, said: “I’m very proud to accept this award which is for everybody working within the golf tourism industry in the Algarve. At a time when people have to keep a tighter rein on their finances than at any time in living memory, the fact we can still attract golfers in the number we have speaks eloquently for the product and the people who deliver it.

“We are fortunate that, in the Algarve, we have some of the very best golf courses in Europe, some outstanding sun-soaked coastline and numerous excellent hotels and resorts of all sizes – but even if all the ingredients are present it still needs highly trained and hard-working people to serve it up correctly and achieve high levels of customer satisfaction.

“And that’s what the people who work in the Algarve have done, not just this year, but in previous years and in many years to come.

“We should also show our appreciation to the tour operators who work so hard to bring people to the region and thank them for their faith in the Algarve. I thank them all for their marvellous effort and everybody for their votes and their support.

“We hope to welcome you to our wonderful region again very soon.”

The Algarve boasts 40 courses and hasn’t looked back since Sir Henry Cotton created the legendary Penina (pictured) in the mid-1960s.

*Don’t forget, you can vote in the TG Travel Awards at http://todaysgolfer.polldaddy.com/s/today-s-golfer-travel-awards-2013 and the great news is that there’s a fantastic stay & play break at Prince’s, Kent, for one lucky voter.Deadline for entries is November 30.