Golf: How Morocco has managed to dethrone giants in Europe

The Algarve in Portugal retains its position as the most popular destination in Europe thanks to its world-class courses and sunshine. It is followed by the Costa del Sol in Spain, Murcia, Lisbon and the Costa de la Luz. The ranking of the ten most popular destinations also includes Marrakech, Belek, the Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Agadir. Corrie Renton, director at Glencor Golf Holidays, highlights the rise of the Moroccan offering, specifying: "What is particularly interesting this year is the continued growth of destinations like Morocco, with Marrakech and Agadir becoming increasingly popular choices for golfers looking for something a little different."

The average length of stays is 4.5 nights, although some locations such as Paphos in Cyprus and Belek in Turkey record longer bookings reaching 6.7 nights. The observed trends indicate that golfers travel mainly in groups, with an average of seven people per trip.

Despite the breakthrough of Morocco and Portugal, Spain continues to dominate the overall demand in terms of host countries. The golf tourism sector seems to be moving towards a search for a balance between the quality of infrastructure, value for money and the search for new playing environments, allowing cities like Marrakech and Agadir to consolidate their presence in the European top 10.