Brno - How to lure tourists to places in the Czech Republic, which are off the beaten track and attract few visitors despite their clear potential? Perhaps building a golf course might help.
At least that is what a little known recreation locality Přestálky south of Prague, Mladé Buky in the North and tens of others villages and small towns across the country are currently doing.
The Czech Republic is experiencing an unprecedented golf boom as it transformed itself into a leading golf destination in the region with over 90 golf courses ready to welcome passionate players. Neighboring Poland, in comparison, offers 24 courts and Slovakia just five.
Locals will benefit
Tens of millions of crowns are being invested in the construction of the golf lawns with one single goal to get rich tourists out of Prague, Český Krumlov and other traditional places of interest and let the other "undiscovered" regions of the Czech Republic have their portion of tourist money.
The company Golf Slapy which is building 18-hole, 51-hectare golf course close to the village Přestálky is promising 15 new jobs for the locals and economic development for the whole region.
"The golf course will indirectly support the development of other businesses," the company claims in their official statement given to the regional authorities.
Costly but profitable
Businesses and communities are investing their money into golf courses even though these can represent significant burden for their budgets.
To build just one hole of the golf course will set you back some two million Czech Crowns. Further millions are paid for necessary infrastructure and background.
But analysts are sure that investing in golf does pay off because it attracts more and more tourists.
"The number of golf-playing tourists is going up faster than the amount of traditional tourists," says Roman Konečný from the consulting agency Etis.
The Czech Republic was also declared "The Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year" at last year's International Golf Travel Market in Marbella, Spain, beating 17 other candidates including Cyprus, Costa Rica or Thailand.
