By Janet Silvera, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
TRANSPORTING AND housing the vast number of cricket fans expected to converge on the Caribbean for the 2007 Cricket World Cup has become a major challenge for organisers of the event.
As a result, cruise ship operators have been asked to act as floating hotels during the games.
"Pending further information and discussion, we have asked our partners in the cruise industry to be part of the process," Jean Holder, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), told The Gleaner. He said the games, which will be the largest tourism event to come to the region, will have an inflow of tourists from several untapped markets.
100,000 VISITORS ARE EXPECTED
In fact, Chris Dehring, managing director of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, said about 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the games. And the event is set to reach an audience of 1.7 billion television viewers worldwide.
"I don't think we have the rooms to satisfy the demand," said Mr. Dehring. "What we have to do is exploit the demand collectively and as individual countries."
He said for the cruise line it was an entrepreneurial venture, which is not uncommon.
Earlier this year when the games were held in South Africa, a reported 30,000 visitors attended. "And we can't measure the number of people who came through the unofficial route," Dehring said.
The difference with the Caribbean is that it is already a preferred destination, located close to the United States and the cost of travelling to the region is smaller than going to places such as Europe, Asia or Australia. Mr. Dehring said he was expecting a large number of visitors out of North America and the United Kingdom.
In the meantime, it is still not known which of the Caribbean states will host the games. Next month they will all vie, by way of an Olympic style bid. "The countries will be chosen on a tender basis," said Mr. Dehring.
The economic impact the World Cup will have on the region is also not yet known, but research shows that the sports related travel and tourism market is worth some US$118 billion. This includes sports spectators and participants, family travel, sports adventure and sports-related corporate incentive travel.
