Türkiye Wins the 30th Edition of a Global Golf Travel Showcase
Türkiye has been confirmed as host country for the 30th edition of the International Golf Travel Market (ITGM) in 2027, a milestone edition of the industry's best-known gathering of golf tour operators, resorts, airlines and travel buyers. The announcement positions the country alongside established golf-travel hosts in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The event brings hundreds of travel trade delegates together for meetings, networking and destination showcases. For Türkiye, hosting the anniversary edition is both a vote of confidence from the golf travel industry and a platform to present its courses, hotels and hospitality to buyers who package golf holidays worldwide.
For travelers, the news is simpler than the trade mechanics: the destination that golf tour operators will be talking about in 2027 is one that is already easy to visit, well served by international flights and unusually generous in what it offers beyond the fairways.
Belek: The Heart of Turkish Golf
Belek, on the coast east of Antalya, is the center of gravity for Turkish golf. The resort area concentrates a cluster of championship layouts designed by internationally known architects, several of them attached to large five-star hotels where guests walk from room to first tee.
Courses here are known for generous practice facilities, strong caddie and rental services, and conditioning that holds up through long seasons. Many resorts offer all-inclusive packages that bundle green fees, accommodation and meals — a format that suits groups, couples and mixed-ability traveling parties.
Belek's setting adds to the appeal. Pines and eucalyptus frame many holes, water comes into play regularly, and the Taurus Mountains provide a backdrop that photographs well and, more practically, signals the sheltered climate that keeps the region playable well outside the northern European summer.
The Wider Riviera: More Courses, More Choice
Belek is the headline, but it is not the whole story. Courses are spread along the Antalya coastline and inland, giving golfers options for variety within a single trip. Travelers can base themselves in one resort and drive short distances to play several different designs.
Istanbul also has golf clubs within reach of the city, which makes a city-and-golf combination possible for visitors who want culture and nightlife alongside their rounds. The practical result is a destination that can be shaped around a pure golf week or a mixed itinerary.
Autumn is a particularly rewarding window. October and November bring warm days, softer prices than high summer and courses that are in strong condition after the peak season. Spring offers a similar balance, making the Riviera a genuine year-round golf option rather than a summer-only one.
Beyond the Fairways: Beaches, Spas and Autumn Warmth
One of Türkiye's advantages as a golf destination is what happens after the 18th hole. Belek and the surrounding Riviera are beach country, with long stretches of sand and resort beach clubs a few minutes from the clubhouse. Non-golfing companions are rarely short of things to do.
Spa and wellness facilities are a signature of the region's resorts, with hammams, thalassotherapy pools and extensive treatment menus. A morning round followed by an afternoon by the pool or in the spa is a realistic, and popular, daily rhythm.
The region's archaeological sites, river rafting, boat trips and the old harbor of Antalya add further range. Families often split the day between golf and the beach, then regroup for dinner — an arrangement that makes the destination unusually easy for mixed groups.
Travelers planning around weather can compare seasonal patterns before booking; our best-time guide sets out what to expect month by month across the country.
Turkish Hospitality on the World Stage
Hosting ITGM in 2027 is expected to bring international travel buyers to Türkiye to see the product firsthand rather than on a screen. That matters in golf travel, where course conditioning, service standards and transfer times are best judged in person.
Turkish hospitality is a genuine selling point. Resorts here tend to run on generous service, long dining hours and staff who are used to international guests. For golfers comparing destinations, that combination of quality and value is often what turns a first visit into a repeat booking.
The 30th edition also gives the country a chance to shift perceptions. Türkiye is already known for beaches, history and city breaks; the golf story is that all of this sits within a short transfer of serious championship courses.
Planning a Golf Trip to Türkiye
Most golf travelers fly into Antalya for Belek and the Riviera, with transfer times from the airport to resort areas measured in well under an hour. Istanbul works better for city-focused itineraries with golf added on.
Booking accommodation and tee times as a package usually secures better rates and simpler logistics than assembling components separately, especially in peak spring and autumn weeks. Groups should confirm handicap requirements and dress codes with each club in advance.
To build an itinerary around courses, coast and culture, start with our destination guides and sample itineraries, or use the trip planner to sketch a route. Travelers comparing resorts will also find practical context in our guides section.
With ITGM 2027 on the horizon, expect more direct golf packages, more seasonal flight capacity and more international attention on Belek. The fairways, the beaches and the autumn sunshine are already in place.
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