SFA-AGR-201-08

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY ANKARA PROMOTES GOLF TOURISM

31 March 2008 - Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla met with the President of the Ankara Golf Club and some diplomats on 28 March to initiate a golf tournament and to promote the Philippines as an excellent golfing destination.

Ambassador Guinomla said that "golfing events are an important platform to expand networks, promote goodwill and friendship and could contribute to opening up of opportunities for businessmen who play the game."

Ambassador Guinomla has talked to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Mohammed Nasser Al Wohaibi of the Sultanate of Oman who endorsed the project and agreed to donate the Dean's trophy for the winner.

Aside from Mr. A. Ulug Atay, president of the 200-member Ankara Golf Club, the others who attended the meeting in the Philippine Chancery were Ambassador Sun Guoxiang of China, Ambassador (Maj. Gen.) Mohammed lstiaq of Bangladesh, Mr. Sarel Van Zyl, Deputy Chief of Mission of South Africa, Mr. Alfonso A. Ver and Ms. Leilani S. Feliciano, Consul General and Vice Consul of the Philippine Embassy, respectively, and Ms. Yaprak Kismet Okur, Secretary Seneral of the Ankara Golf Club.

Ambassador Awang Bahrin of Indonesia, who was out of town during the initial meeting, expressed support for the project.  Mr. Atay expressed his delight over Ambassador Guinomla's initiative and his invitation for the club members and Turkish golfers to visit the Philippines and play rounds of golf in its various courses.

Ambassador Guinomla handed out tourism brochures and copy of the Philippine Golf Guide (2006-2007) edition.

Although the capital city of Ankara does not have a course, several courses have been built in the southern region of Turkey particularly the resort city of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast.

More courses are being planned for construction to cater to tourists and local enthusiasts whose members are growing. END

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