Ahh...lovely cricket! The sentiments of many Jamaicans for this well-loved sport. But then again, that could be the response of enthusiasts to the myriad of sporting activities on the island’s busy social calendar. From football, track and field, swimming, boxing, tennis, cycling, polo, horseracing, horse jumping, deep sea fishing, golf, go-cart racing, and now even dog sledding, Jamaica’s growth in the sporting arena presents opportunities for development that could position the country as a sporting destination and so reduce the seasonality of its tourism product.
Should Jamaica harness and structure events around the incredible and innate sporting talent of its people, the country could benefit from the ever-increasing trillion dollar industry. Jamaica’s proximity to the United States is a distinct advantage as the two countries have been inextricably linked by sports.
Our achievements in track and field are legendary and have contributed to the mystique of the powerful and internationally-acclaimed Jamaica brand. The spectacular performances by athletes such as Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie, Bertland Cameron, Merlene Ottey, Juliet Cuthbert, Grace Jackson, Deon Hemmings, Veronica Campbell, James Beckford, Lorraine Fenton, Gregory Haughton and Asafa Powell have commanded the respect and the recognition of the international community.
The University of Technology in Jamaica has been designated a High Performance Centre for track and field by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), setting the stage for expansion of its programmes to offer world-class training for Jamaicans, as well as athletes from all over the world.
The exploits of our Sunshine Girls in netball, Reggae Boyz in football, bobsledders and other achievers in the sports arena have boosted the image of Jamaica as one of the world’s major sporting powers.
The development of state-of-the-art facilities at the National Stadium, the National Indoor Sports Centre, the Mona Hockey Field and our world-renowned championship golf courses, as well as the country’s track record in successfully hosting major international events such as the IAAF World Youth Games in 2002 and the World Netball Championships in 2003, are among the other positive developments that have positioned Jamaica to take its place in the competitive sports tourism market segment.
As a host for the upcoming Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007, this country will be the focus of world attention. This stellar competition will provide an unprecedented opportunity to effectively showcase all aspects of life in Jamaica and our ability to plan and execute a sports extravaganza to the highest international standards.
Efficient delivery of hospitality services to the thousands of visitors who will travel to Jamaica for this event will assure us a piece of the action in the multi-billion dollar sports tourism business, one of the fastest growing areas of this $4.5 trillion global travel and tourism industry. By 2011, travel and tourism is expected to account for more than 10 percent of the global gross domestic product. The economies of cities, regions and even countries around the world are increasingly reliant on the visiting golfer and skier or the travelling football, rugby or cricket or track and field supporter. In some countries, sports can account for as much as 25 percent of all tourism receipts.
Sports tourists are passionate, high-spending, and enjoy new sporting experiences. The direct benefit to a destination is the cash spent by these visitors while the indirect benefit can be years of follow up visits. Some additional benefits can include the development of new infrastructure and service industries, increased employment and a stronger national economy.
