Golf Tourism represents the largest sports-related travel market in the World. There are over 50 million golf tourists travelling around the world enjoying their golf vacations on some of the finest golf courses in the world. According to a survey by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand with its 260 golf courses, is now one of the top golf vacation destinations in Asia.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently held a survey with over 3,389 tourists from 68 countries participating, and naturally its beaches and islands are the biggest draw, with golf also proving very popular.

The Golf Travel industry is always looking to find new courses to feature, and Thailand is perhaps one of the few countries in the World, where rather than closing down clubs, they are actually opening new golf courses, to cope with demand.

The media are now discovering this region, and recently a group of Australian journalists flew into Thailand to visit one of the newer destinations attracting golfers, namely Kaho Yai.

Apart from the cooler weather, this National Park is home to thousands of species of plants, birds and mammals, including Asiatic black bears, Asian elephants, and tigers. Located just 2 hours north of Bangkok, this beautiful part of Thailand is also home to a number of first class golf courses, surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and exotic wildlife.

Rowan Clark, senior writer for Australia's Golf Digest magazine, was very excited about golfing in Khao Yai. "I have been to Thailand twice before, but this was my first trip to this region, and to play on first class resort courses with such incredible scenery was a revelation. I have never seen an elephant walking along the road to a golf course before! The countryside there was very lush and uninhabited, which was wonderful. We played rounds at Toscana and Rancho golf courses and they were both up there with any resort courses we have in Australia. I was very impressed," said Rowan.

Another new course that is capturing a lot of media coverage is The Royal Gems Golf City. This Bangkok golf course replicates famous holes including the Road Hole at St Andrews in Scotland and the back nine at Augusta, and is already becoming a major attraction.

TAT will soon conduct more specific surveys on eco tourism and golf tourism destinations. Meanwhile for more information on why Thailand is becoming THE golfer's paradise, check out www.golfinakingdom.com where you will find information about a number of golf courses, accommodation and destinations.

Apart from a variety of seaside, mountain and city golf courses available to test all standard of players, perhaps Thailand's best kept secret has to be their beautiful caddies. Giving you the yardage, reading the greens or holding your umbrella along with their infectious smile, is hard to resist.