Kenya is set to host the Ladies European Tour for the first time in November this year at Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort in Kilifi.

The organisation of the professional tour is projected to cost $1.2 million.

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At least 126 lady golfers from Europe, the US, Asia, New Zealand and Australia are expected to take part in the four-day event, which is expected to be broadcast live by sports media organisations from over 80 countries.

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Ladies European Tour, CEO, Ivan Khodabakhsh, said the organisation was excited to add Kenya to its golf calendar of events. He added that, apart from the tournament, the lady golfers were also expected to holiday at Kenya’s coastal resorts and safari in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

On the African continent, only South Africa and Morocco have so far hosted the event.

Khodabakhsh said holding the event at Vipingo would give Kenya global coverage as the tournament would be broadcast live by leading sports channels such as Sky Sports, NBC golf channel and Super Sports. “Golfers like to travel. The Ladies European Tour will therefore promote Kenya globally as it has players from five continents,” he said.

Kenyan Tourism Minister, Najib Balala, said the Kenyan government would support the organisation of the tournament, adding that it would boost the local tourism sector. He planned to chair a round table to help raise $1.2 million for organising the tournament.

Balala said Kenya had diversified its tourist products by adding golf tourism to be marketed alongside its premier beach and safari products to attract more holidaymakers to the country. In recent years, the Kenya Tourism Board has also been promoting golf tourism as part of efforts to woo more golfers into the country to help revive the industry.

“We have beautiful golf courses at the coast, Nairobi, Mount Kenya and the Rift regions, which are capable of hosting international golf events,” said Balala.