McNeill eyes sports tourism for Jamaica

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr. Wykeham McNeill has announced the establishment of a Sports Tourism Implementation Committee (STIC), to develop the potential of sports tourism in Jamaica into practical initiatives and tangible output.

McNeill, who was speaking at the launch of the Jamaica Soccer Cup Tournament at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel recently, said the committee will support and complement the work of the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Ministry of Sports and its agencies.

“I view this initiative as a positive indication of the possibilities of sports tourism as we move to implement more and more tangible elements, and continue to develop a sports tourism policy in tandem with the Ministry of Sports,” he said.

The committee is chaired by Chris Dehring, CEO of LIME Jamaica and former Managing Director and CEO of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

The tourism minister said the commitee's mandate is to identify and work with both local and overseas interests to create sporting focused events and activities.

McNeill said it will effectively exploit the athletic dominance of Jamaica, which was highlighted at the recent London Olympics and in the process actualise sporting opportunities for Jamaica’s tourism industry.

However, in outlining the rationale behind the committee’s formation, McNeill explained that an expansion of the tourism market is what is desired.

“For our tourism sector to develop in the long term we must diversify our market segments, and in order to do this we need to attract and sustain new segments such as sports tourism by providing a wider range of offerings in our product portfolio.”

Other members of the committee are Chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Technical Committee and recently appointed Development Officer for the CONCACAF region of FIFA, Howard McIntosh, Zachary Harding and President of the Business of Sports and Usain Bolt’s publicist, Carole Beckford.

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