The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN sports tourism is expected to receive a 'significant boost' from the revival of Bahamas Speed Week, organisers said yesterday, with a number of high spending individuals expected to attend the five-day event. The Bahamas is also expected to benefit from the media frenzy surrounding the event, particularly from European media agencies attracted by the presence of racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss, after a 50-year absence. Bahamas Speed Week, which is designed to be a revival of the motor racing 'golden age' of the late 1950s-1960's in Nassau, will be held from November 30 to December 4, and will feature eight events during that span. Forty-five cars valued at well over $100 million are expected to be present. Minister of Tourism, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, told Tribune Business that the Speed Week model was one that would work well for the Bahamas' sport tourism sector. "This model is precisely what we want to see in all of the areas of sports tourism. One of the things we are very much aligned to is having a whole season of events. What we have discovered a long time ago is for the Ministry of Tourism to be solely responsible for these events, we simply do not have the capacity to do it. What we have here is a general model for what we would like to see happening," the Minister said. He added: "Obviously associating ourselves with those kind of events that our high spending, high quality visitors like going to is something we should be expanding on. We don't like getting involved in one-off things. We want to see something that has sustainable momentum over many years, so we are looking for annual events, and also people who are looking to manage those annual events." Bahamas Speed Week president, Jimmy Lowe, could not say yesterday how much had been invested into the event, but told Tribune Business: "I can say it is well in the six-figure range, in the top end." Mr Lowe said the event was part of a vision to bring Speed Week back to Nassau after nearly 50 years. "It's been a roller coaster ride, but at the end of the day I think seeing the cars back in Nassau will be worth it," he added. Organisers said yesterday that tickets for the event, ranging from $20 to $400, have nearly sold out, with part of the proceeds going to The Bahamas Cancer Society, The Ranfurly Home for Children, Teen Challenge and the AIDS foundation. The five-day event, which includes a free day for visitors to relax and explore the island, will conclude with the Arawak Cay Sprint day, a 1.1 mile race around Arawak Cay.