From right to left: Olivier LEPINE, commissioned by Michel VEUNAC, mayor of Biarritz and president of Biarritz Tourisme, representing the partners of "Biarritz Destination Golf", Christian MANTEI, general manager of Atout France, Jean-Baptiste LEMOYNE, secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Delphine GENY-STEPHANN, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Economy and Finance Copyright: Benoit Granier / Matignon.

It's gone again for three years! Delphine Geny-Stephann, Secretary of State to the Minister of the Economy and Finance and Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs signed on Friday January 19, 2018 with BIARRITZ TOURISME represented by Olivier Lepine, commissioned by Michel Veunac, mayor of Biarritz and president of the tourist office, the renewal of the golf destination contract intended to better promote the tourist and golfing assets of this territory internationally. Out of 22 destination contracts, the "BIARRITZ Destination Golf" contract is one of the 4 renewed and is therefore given a special budget to develop foreign golfing customers in Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64) and in the south of the Landes (40) in focusing in particular on digital. In 2014, Biarritz Tourisme federated the Departmental Committees of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Landes, the tourist offices of the Basque coast, that of Pau, the Regional Committee of Tourism of Aquitaine, the Golf Pass of Biarritz and that of the Landes, schools and golf courses in the region, Atout France, and the Air France Flying Blue Golf program, as well as accommodation providers to set up a project around the promotion of golf internationally. An action which has made it possible to position Biarritz and its region as a golf destination of excellence. This project had also obtained the support of the State, at the time materialized by the signing of a golf destination contract.

International recognition

After 3 years of life, the results of the "Biarritz destination golf" contract are largely positive, and have shown its ability to mobilize all the partners - golf courses and schools, tourism institutions - on the implementation of joint actions and their international promotion. A contract that generated the creation of the site biarritz-destination-golf.com, joint international promotion actions (USA, Canada, Europe), the hosting of 40 international journalists specializing in golf, representing more than € 400 in advertising equivalent value. He was also at the origin of the creation of a "Golf Pass Biarritz Destination golf" allowing to play 000 to 2 courses in the Basque Country and the Landes.

The Biarritz Destination Golf contract also involves programming stays with more than 60 tour operators and travel agencies, which represents an increase of more than 50% compared to the start of the contract. Sales of Golf Passes by TOs more than doubled between 2015 and 2017, while those made directly by golfers increased by 38% over the same period.

Biarritz Destination Golf is finally the recognition of the agglomeration as a full-fledged golf destination with a presence of the city in the official video for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Strong from the Biarritz Pays Basque brand, recognized to be the '' one of 20 French brands carrying the image of the country internationally, Biarritz now has all the assets to perfect its promotion with golfers around the world

Biarritz Golf Destination by Exellence

With a very competitive overall price for the stay, an exceptional geographic location and first-rate tourist infrastructure, Biarritz is one of the main French and European golf destinations. A reputation largely due to the quality of the accommodation, the large number of courses (16 within a perimeter of 100 km) and the diversity of golf schools (around twenty).

Very competitive overall price of the stay, interest of the place and tourist infrastructures, quality of accommodation, quality and number of routes (16 within a perimeter of 100 kms), schools (about twenty), added to the wealth of outdoor activities: beach, surfing, thalassotherapy, hiking, museums, gastronomy, conviviality: BIARRITZ and its region meet the many criteria involved in choosing a destination for a golfer.

The very wide range of outdoor activities, beach, surfing, thalassotherapy, hiking, museums, gastronomy, events, has finally contributed to the enormous tourist appeal of Biarritz for many decades.

Ilbarritz Biarritz-Photo credit Pascal LE DOARE

16 courses within a radius of 100 kms

The courses offered and gathered around the Biarritz Pays Basque brand are also recognized as very qualitative, open all year round and geographically very close. The quality of the Biarritz, Moliets, Seignosse, Hossegor, Chiberta Anglet and Makila Bayonne golf courses is no longer in doubt. The reputation of the courses of Pau, the oldest golf course on the continent and that of Chantaco, confirm this image of a unique golf destination. For its part, the Golf de Seignosse is regularly ranked in the very first European golf courses for the quality of its course while the golf of Biarritz le Phare, the second oldest on the continent, is renowned for the very high standards of its greens. The Ilbarritz training center is also one of the best European practices with its four permanent schools on the site and welcomes a large number of champions and numerous teachers accompanying their students. Soon, the project to build a large golf resort in the Landes (Tosse), supported by the European Tour, the FFG and Atout France, will further enrich the offer of the destination.

Golf tourism organized around a Golf pass offering 2 to 8 courses **

A pass at very attractive prices:
50 € the course in low season (January 1 to April 1 - November 5 to December 31, 2018)
57 € the course in mid season (April 2 to July 8 - September 3 to November 4, 2018) 67 € the course in high season (July 9 - September 2, 2018)

** Biarritz le Phare, Chantaco, Arcangues, Makila Golf Club Bayonne Bassussarry, Seignosse, Moliets, Hossegor, Pinsolle-Soustons, Mont de Marsan. Online booking only online at www.biarritz-destination-golf.com

Internationally renowned competitions:

The Biarritz Cup which will take place this year from 8 to 15 July is recognized as the best amateur competition and brings together some 500 players from France and abroad. In recent years, she has seen all the great champions of the discipline pass at the Golf de Biarritz le Phare.

New in 2018: Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy

For the first time this year, more than 130 international golf players will meet at Biarritz le Phare golf from April 26 to 28, 2018 to participate in the 20th edition of the Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy. Created in 1999 by Catherine Lacoste in tribute to her mother Simone Thion de la Chaume, the Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy was the first Open International Seniors Ladies in the world and remained the only one in Europe until 2010. Selective stage for the members of national teams, the best players come together for this tournament which has become a must in Women's Golf in a few years. Professionals from LPGA and LET also make up this attractive set of players.

An easily accessible destination

In direct connection with Great Britain (London, Southampton and Birmingham), Ireland (Dublin), Scandinavia (Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm), Benelux (Brussels Charleroi and Luxembourg), Berlin, Madrid, Geneva, Paris and several French cities (Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Lille, Strasbourg, Bâle Mulhouse, Châteauroux), the international airport of Biarritz Pays Basque, with more than 1 passengers, currently welcomes Hop! Air France, SAS, Flybe, Iberia Air Nostrum, Volotea, Swiss, Luxair, Finnair, Easyjet, Ryanair and IG Avion. In addition, Pau Pyrénées airport, SNCF stations and the motorway network are all facilities for accessing the destination.

A wide hotel offer

With more than 10 hotel rooms, 000 1500-star rooms including the Hôtel du Palais, one of the 5 Palaces in France and the only one on the Atlantic coast, the Basque Country, Béarn Pyrénées and the Landes offer visitors a complete, vast and diverse hotel range.
The region is also known for its rooms as close as possible to golf courses with ocean or mountain views, its 5-star castles and hotels, or even its guest houses. Accommodation that adapts to all tastes and all budgets and that will satisfy any request at any time of the year.

For more information on accommodation: www.biarritz-destination-golf.com