Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Golf Ambassador Ariya Jutanugarn now World Number One

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) congratulates its Thailand Golf Ambassador, professional golfer Ariya Jutanugarn or Pro May, for becoming World Number One when she won the 2017 Manulife LPGA Classic in Ontario, Canada.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “This is a great achievement for Ariya and we’d like to pass on our congratulations on behalf of the Thai people. Ariya is not only the world’s best lady golfer, but also the perfect ambassador for Thai golf. She honed her skills on the kingdom’s amazing golf courses and took advantage of world-class facilities. We invite international golfers to Thailand to follow in her footsteps and enjoy some first-class golf.”

Ariya Jutanugarn, 21, won the 2017 Manulife LPGA Classic with a 30-foot putt, beating American Lexi Thompson and South Korean In Gee Chun. This makes her the first ever Thai golfer to take the top golf spot. The win also marked Ariya’s sixth LPGA victory.

Ariya and her sister Moriya Jutanugarn, also a professional golfer, were appointed Thailand Golf Ambassadors by the TAT in 2016. Both have helped to reach out to golf and sports lovers and tour operators, especially in Asian nations, where golf is highly popular; such as, South Korea and Singapore.

With Ariya having taken the world’s number one spot, Thailand can attract golf lovers from even more nations across the globe.

Mr. Yuthasak said, “Thailand is a perfect destination for golfers both amateur and professionals. The kingdom has hosted many international golf tournaments including the Honda LPGA Thailand and Thailand Golf Championship, which attract a large number of professional players and golf lovers from all over the world.”

Ariya Jutanugarn (right) and her sister Moriya Jutanugarn (left) were appointed Thailand Golf Ambassadors by the TAT in 2016

Thailand’s golf courses have also been recognised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) who named Chiang Mai as Golf Destination of the Year 2017 in the Asia and Australasia region. Prior to that, Pattaya was named Golf Destination of the Year in 2006 and 2010, and Hua Hin received the award in 2012.

The golf tourism marketing activity is part of TAT’s policy of promoting Thailand as Asia’s sporting hub. Recent years have seen a range of sporting events coming to the kingdom including marathons, adventure sports, and triathlons, which attract international participants.