Biz Bits

The Bahamas could perhaps learn alot from Jamaica, as it relates to sports tourism.

That nation's Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, recently outlined a number of initiatives Jamaica intends to pursue, which are expected to boost and enhance the development of sports tourism there.

Speaking at a post Beijing Olympics Tourism briefing recently the Minister said that "sports tourism will become a major part of the deliverables in tourism and an important medium by which we are going to be bringing more heads to beds, more lookers into bookers and more feet to the streets of Jamaica."

Given the lagging performance of the tourism sector, on the shores of a nation which, like Jamaica, has an admirable sporting legacy, The Bahamas would do well to 'listen and learn'.

The minister noted that the sector would start, initially, with four key sports - athletics, cricket, football, and golf.

He further pointed out that plans are in high gear to host the world's first-ever 100-meter beach sprint, to be held in 2009, to coincide with the first staging of the World Athletics Awards.

The initiative aims to highlight the welcoming spirit of Jamaica as a leading lifestyle travel destination, and a country of sporting excellence.

He noted that the sector's presence at the recently held Beijing Olympic Games,

allowed Brand Jamaica to be tremendously showcased and created synergies that

would contribute to the country's economic development.