Elms Partnership, an international sport and leisure consultancy, has been appointed by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Barbados Ministry of Tourism to design the strategy by undertaking an eight-month study.

This study will assess strengths, weaknesses and the competitiveness of the present sports tourism product on the island, long a popular destination for international cricket fans, notwithstanding the decline of the West Indies team that was once the most powerful in the world.

Based on this assessment, a strategy will be drawn up recommending actions required to improve the enabling environment for developing a niche in sports tourism.

Areas of action are likely to include the policy and regulatory framework, investment climate and other areas relevant to sports tourism.

"Barbados is already a serious contender in the sports tourism sector, one of the tourism industry's fastest growing sectors," said Andy Preece, Elms Partnership director.

"The development of this long-term strategy will help Barbados to maximise its potential."

Chanda Chellah, adviser (trade) in the special advisory services division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, said Barbados was being assisted by the secretariat "in line with the organisation's goal of supporting economic development policies in Commonwealth countries through diversification into fast-growing sectors".

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