ICC Cricket World Cup offering financial boom

Adrian Frater' News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:

THE 59-DAY 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, to be staged in the Caribbean for the first time, is poised to bring significant financial benefits to Jamaica, especially Trelawny and Kingston, which will host the opening ceremony and a semi-final respectively.

"The benefit to tourism should be tremendous as in addition to the thousands of additional visitors who will start arriving here as early as March 1, 2007, there is also the tremendous advertising benefits from television coverage," said executive director of the local organising committee (LOC) Robert Bryan.

"Also, the tournament will present a perfect opportunity for local business interests to establish ties with visiting investors who will be coming in from places such as the Far East."

PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY

Speaking against the background of the 20,000 ­ 30,000 additional visitors that are expected in the island as well as an estimated 4.5 billion worldwide television audience, he said the World Cup presents a phenomenal opportunity to market 'Brand Jamaica' in a positive light.

While noting that Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), a non-Caribbean entity, has bought the rights for the World Cup for an estimated US$550 million from the ICC, Mr. Bryan said there was still tremendous scope for local businesses to cash in on the multi-billion dollar event.

The expected financial bonanza will not be limited to the business sector as under a Team Jamaica initiative ­ being developed by the LOC in conjunction with JAMPRO and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) ­ provisions are being made for the transportation sector, small properties, restaurants, craft vendors, entertainers and persons with other specialised skills to earn from the event.

'Team Jamaica' campaign, which falls under a legacy strategy, is aimed at ensuring that the country derives
maximum benefit from Government's US$80 million investment in the tournament, is to be spearheaded by JAMPRO and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). Its primary function is to unify Jamaica in a grand bid to project the nation's heritage, culture and other noteworthy features in a positive light.