Trinidad and Tobago's Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee urged regional media practitioners to look beyond the dollar signs and shortcoming of Caribbean Community states, and regard the Cricket World Cup 2007 as the event that would forever mark the turning point in the regions' development.
By Ernie Seon
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC (February 25, 2005) - Trinidad and Tobago's Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee Friday urged regional media practitioners to look beyond the dollar signs and shortcoming of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, and regard the Cricket World Cup 2007 as the event that would forever mark the turning point in the regions' development.
In an address to the eight edition of the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) conference here, Chin Lee said the Cricket World Cup event would open up numerous possibilities for creative and entrepreneurial opportunities.
"It also presents us with an opportunity to share our rich and diverse cultures and inspiring and beautiful natural heritage that defines our islands with the rest of the world," Chin Lee said.
He told the media representatives from several Caribbean states and North America that they had the power of representation and to present a good image of the host region.
"I urge you understand what it means for the Caribbean to host the cricket world cup 2007. We have to step up to the crease".
Caribbean countries stand to earn US$600 millions between now and 2007, which makes the event the single largest revenue earner in the history of the Caribbean.
In addition, a total of US$250 million will be spent to build 8 new stadia across the Caribbean contributing US$180 million towards the construction.
"Tourism therefore will be at an all time high because of the staging of the World Cup Cricket in the region," Chen Lee said, adding that it had the potential to leave a lasting legacy of sustainable tourism.
He told delegates that the fact that cricket fans would not spend all of their time at sporting grounds "would create numerous creative and entrepreneurial possibilities".
The Minister said that sports tourism encompasses more than just attracting sports enthusiasts to a place where they can enjoy their favourite activities.
"It also means using sporting events to showcase the scenery, climate and attractions of a destination and to attract large numbers of spectators and their tourist dollars", he noted.
The one-day activity focused on a presentation made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICC World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc., Chris Dehring, entitled "The State of Play".
Delegates also discussed tourism linkages to the 2007 event such as accommodation, disaster management, agribusiness, enterprise development, HIV/AIDS, sex tourism, information technology and transportation.
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