Man Utd, Barca to play in TT as...
By KEVIN SUNICH (Newsday).
SPORTS Manager in the Tourism Development Company Manohar Ramsaran said Sports Tourism is poised to be the number one sector in the tourism Industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
He said at the moment the country has the products that could draw a lot of people; however, it will call for proper marketing.
“For Example We have a product which is the T20 team and if properly marketed it will lots of people to our shores. We saw our players at their best today for the West Indies with both bat and ball. We have an excellent team and once that is marketed properly T20 could be one of our better tourism products,” said Ramsaran.
In addition to branding the former Sports Minister said they have been in discussion to bring some top international teams such as Manchester United and Barcelona to play two matches a year, one in Trinidad and one in Tobago.
He said once they get the necessary finances this would become a reality, which will no doubt draw hundreds of thousands of people to the twin island.
The Sports Manager in the TDC said the 2012/13 Budget spoke a lot about sports tourism which he’s excited about.
“I have not really seen the figures and details to see what is happening but I hope we would have enough money when I read the details to really make it happen for us. I feel really privileged to be the one leading these efforts,” said the former Sports Minister.
Ramsaran said at the moment the Sports Tourism department of the TDC are working on the draft Sports Tourism Policy. “We have been working to bring shape to the document and we have been pledged financial support Commonwealth when it reaches the final stage. Thereafter it would have to be passed by cabinet. Once this is in place it would make things a lot easier in helping to develop our products.”
He said for this to get off the ground all stakeholders must work together contributing to the common goal which is to make TT a sports tourism destination.
The former Sports Minister is confident that the TDC will get enough money to complete its projects. “The Finance Minister stated that tourism is the number two economic pillar in the country and so I am expecting that the majority of financial requests from us will be granted and we will be able to get the job done.”