Catalonia commits €30m from tourist tax to fund Ryder Cup 2031

The Catalan government will allocate €30 million, fully funded through the tourist tax, to support the organization of the Ryder Cup 2031, which will be held at the Camiral Golf & Wellness complex in Caldes de Malavella, just outside Girona.

Albert Dalmau, Catalonia's presidency minister, emphasized that one of the key goals of the tourist tax is to ensure the benefits flow back into Catalonia.

At the official presentation for the Ryder Cup 2031 – held at Camiral on Friday with key political and institutional representatives in attendance – Dalmau described the negotiations to secure the international golf event as "easy."

The tournament's director, Guy Kinnings, CEO of Ryder Cup Europe, noted that the project is still in a "very early" planning stage, particularly with regard to whether existing facilities will be sufficient for the tournament.

Kinnings highlighted that the tournament is "a global event" that has a major impact on the economy of the host region. "This is your Ryder Cup; there are six years left, but the journey and your legacy begin now," he said.

Dalmau said bring the tournament to Catalonia marked "a collective success for the country," both for the administrations and the private sector.

"When an event comes to Catalonia, it becomes greater; and it also generates economic benefits throughout the territory."

"Our country, when it has stability, a long-term vision, ambition and works hard, has everything in its favour," he added.

Camiral will follow Bethpage Black in New York (2025), Adare Manor in Ireland (2027) and Hazeltine National in Minnesota (2029) as the venue for the tournament, which pits Europe against the United States every two years.

This will be the first time the competition is held in Catalonia, and only the second time in Spain, after Seve Ballesteros led Europe to victory at Valderrama in Andalusia in 1997.