The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

MINISTRY of Tourism executives yesterday said they were focused on bringing sports tourism to the “forefront” of this nation’s offerings, leveraging relationships with major Florida franchises such as the Miami Dolphins to attract more top events to this destination.

“We want to really focus on bringing sports to the forefront. People really don’t know a lot about the Bahamas,” said sports tourism director Greg Rolle.

“We are really doing a lot of things in the travel and trade arena, promoting sun, sand and sea. In terms of sports, people don’t really know that much about what we are doing. That’s the reason why we went after the Miami Heat to show that we could have such an event in the Bahamas, and we’re trying to reach other big marquis events.

“The thing is exposure. If people know that we could get the big fish, the smaller fish will come.”

Mr Rolle said the Ministry of Tourism, as part of its partnership with the Miami Dolphins, was working to host an event with former Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback, Dan Marino.

He added that if this nation could draw a fraction of the franchise’s fan base here, it could mean major dividends for sports tourism in the Bahamas.

Mr Rolle said the Ministry was also working with the Florida Panthers ice hockey franchise to hold a street hockey event in the Bahamas in June-July.

“The Panthers are going to come to the Bahamas for the first time. We are going to partner with Jet Blue and what we are going to is an outreach programme,” said Mr Rolle.

“We’re going to work with Urban Renewal, get some of the inner-city kids and show them the game of hockey. Instead of playing it on ice, we are going to play in the streets. The whole idea is to have an outreach programme to show the partnerships that we have.”

Mr Rolle also highlighted the Bahamas Bowl, set to kick-off in December this year. The Bahamas has signed a six-year contract which paves the way for this nation to host an NCAA Bowl game for the next six years.

“The commissioner of one of the conferences is going to host a party so that the Bahamas will launch the Bahamas Bowl for December,” he added.

“This is huge, this is going to be big. It’s going to revolutionise sports tourism. We are doing big things, and we are going to do small things as well.”