Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Ken Gordon (right), president of the West Indies Cricket Board, and Chairman of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007; Beverley Lopez (centre), president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and Chris Zacca, deputy chairman, Sandals Group are in a jovial mood at the PSOJ members' luncheon on ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, at the Hilton Kingston hotel, in New Kingston, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

THE ECONOMY of some Caribbean countries is set to benefit by more than US$200 million when Cricket World Cup (CWC) arrives next March, according to West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Ken Gordon.

Mr. Gordon was guest speaker at a Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) luncheon at the Hilton hotel, in New Kingston, yesterday.

Great possibilities

"We estimate that we can have as many as 100,000 visitors to the region over the period of the World Cup games and, if we use the guideline of US$200 per day as an average spend on accommodation, travel, food, entertainment and souvenirs, you begin to get an idea of the possibilities," Mr. Gordon told the PSOJ.

The region is hosting the CWC for the first time. Some 16 teams will compete for supremacy over 47 days. The games will be played in nine countries, with Jamaica, holders of the Yellow Package, hosting the opening ceremony, some first-round games and a semi-final.

More than US$300 million has been invested in the nine host countries for the construction and upgrading of stadia. Mr. Gordon admitted that the cost of hosting the tournament is high, but said the "opportunities are much greater". He said a successful Cricket World Cup could serve as a launching pad into the complexities of globalisation.

Mr. Gordon said the recent record of the West Indies in the last 30 one-day internationals (17 wins, 11 losses and two draws) was an indication that the regional team was on its way up once more.

"With the assistance of corporate Caribbean, we will get there," he said.