A conversation on Sports Tourism is necessary

Several weeks ago, the weekly column “On Target”, highlighted the relationship between academics and sports. The writer focused on how sports has been used to earn degrees and ultimately a better standard of living for Vincentians.

Likewise, the importance of sports and tourism has risen in recent decades as a result of economic growth, and the effects of the recent pandemic. Countries are now showing more care towards health and general well-being. Interestingly, being active has been normalised as a noteworthy practice of daily living. As a result, sporting events attract high numbers of tourists, resulting in countries adding sports events to their touristic portfolios.

The partnership between sports and tourism is not new to St Vincent and the Grenadines. St Vincent and the Grenadines Squash Association just concluded the successful hosting of the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships. There were approximately 300 people as participants, coaches, officials, and well-wishers. Also, the West Indies Under-19 Cricket tournament has been underway for several weeks with approximately 100 participants on the island. These tournaments have given the country extensive publicity and attracted more tourists to the island.

Similarly, the Ministries of Sports and Tourism, associations, and local businesses have collaborated to organize friendly matches and championships. Over the years, these local competitions have brought thousands of tourists to our shores. A conversation about sports tourism is worth having, especially given the continuous expansion of our hotel industry and international airport.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global travel industry and is estimated to be worth approximately US$800 billion. This accounts for 10% of the world’s tourism industry.

By hosting sporting events, St. Vincent and the Grenadines can benefit from increased tourism revenue, job and business creation, and the development of new sports infrastructure and facilities. Moreover, it can help to strengthen the country’s reputation as an attractive tourist destination. In addition, hosting sporting events will bring more international attention to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which can lead to increased investment and more foreign direct investment in the country. It can also increase the visibility of the country, helping to promote its unique culture and traditions to the world.

Of note too, it can lead to increased collaboration with other countries in the Caribbean region, allowing St. Vincent and the Grenadines to benefit from the collective knowledge and experience of its neighbours.

Moreover, with their presence on the regional and international scene, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ sportsmen and women are doing the nation’s publicity a great service. Over the last weekend, we saw Handal Roban collecting gold at the NACAC Under-23 championships in Costa Rica, to add to his gold at the Central America and Caribbean Games. At the latter event, Shaifqua Maloney earned a bronze, and our Vincy Jewels netballers, a bronze medal as well. Notwithstanding that, there are international cricketers such as Obed Mc Coy, among other sports people who are flying the flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines high.

Nevertheless, it is evident and well-documented that exposure to continuous competition is an essential factor in an elite athlete’s development. For traditional sports, there are organized competitions at the primary, high school, collegiate, and club levels, to a large extent in several other Caribbean countries. The writer would be remiss not to mention that Jamaican sprinting success is often attributed to the existence of the Boys’ and Girls’ high school track and field championships (Champs). For non-traditional sports, the national teams are comprised of athletes of Caribbean heritage who grew up, trained, and competed in developed countries.

For us in the smaller developing Caribbean islands, competition is even less prevalent. While regional tournaments are limited, the cost of hosting is a barrier, along with the cost of teams travelling. Moreover, administrators and coaches lament that more exposure is needed through competitions.

As athletes compete in a small pool, they quickly learn their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and quickly peak and plateau. Once they reach star status in college or at a national level, athletes may feel comfortable and even unbeatable until they are exposed to international competition and realize they still have a long way to go.

In essence, it is time for us to join the conversation about sports tourism and host more sporting events. This would allow St. Vincent and the Grenadines to build a strong network of regional partners, creating a robust platform for trade, investment, and development. This collaboration can contribute to increased economic development in the form of shared resources, increased investment opportunities, and increased trade. It could also lead to improved public services, such as education, health care, and infrastructure. This, in turn, could lead to increased employment opportunities and a higher standard of living for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Ultimately, this could result in a stronger, more prosperous country. Therefore, it is imperative that we explore and embrace sports tourism as an essential component of our country’s development.

Shimano Bailey