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TEF sees value in adding beach wrestling to sports tourism offerings
January 07, 2025
Beach wrestling could be a worthwhile addition to the nation's sports tourism offerings. This view was expressed by Dr Carey Wallace, executive director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), following Saturday's successful first staging of the Jamaica Wrestling Federation's (JWF) Open Beach Wrestling competition at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James.
"We appreciate the value of sports tourism just adding more diversity to the tapestry of offerings we have here in Jamaica that will make visitors from anywhere else choose to make the trip here," Wallace told THE STAR about the event that was held in the sun, and rain.
"In the case of wrestling on the beach at the Harmony Beach Park, we are quite excited when there are new, novel and co-operation with the natural assets that we have. In the case of the warm beach, what that does is give us a sense of uniqueness."
Wallace said the TEF's standpoint is to see more visitors travel to Jamaica owing to their investments in sports tourism.
"Persons who are into the sport but live in cold countries, we can imagine them making an annual trip out to a warm destination like Jamaica in order to maintain and continue the sport that they are involved with," he said.
The JWF has plans on making this an annual and flagship event for the association. Its president, Osayimwese Osagboro, believes it was fitting for the event to be held in the tourism capital.
"Montego Bay is the mecca of tourism. Before the rain, many passers-by who were also visiting the island, stopped to observe it. I believe it can boost sports tourism because the people coming out of Jamaica know wrestling. The beach was available so we thought it was a good idea to have the event held there," Osagboro said.
The competition was sponsored by TEF, Chukka and Ocho Rios Wrestling.
Also, there was an all-female international referee's competition, which was split into three age groups, under-15, under-20 and seniors.
"If you can organise it you can get them to come. If the TEF and the Jamaica Tourist Board approach the JWF to stage some tournaments and they will sponsor them, it is a no-brainer, it would be a good tourism product," Osagboro said.
Based on the reaction of Jamie Goodman, a tourist from London, England, who ran into the competition by chance, it seems to have some pulling power as he said he would love to engage in it again.
"I never wrestled before, it was my first experience in any competitive combat sport or wrestling. I was just walking by, I left my hotel for a little stroll. I saw the competition and was told to participate. Without any training or technique I was humbled by the people there who've clearly done this before," he shared.
Along with Jamaicans, participants came from Canada, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the USA.
Goodman stated that it added value to his vacation and the participants made him feel welcomed and safe.
"I got coaching from the sidelines and ended up getting a point. It was very tactical but it is something I would love to do again. There was a lot of respect and I didn't feel any danger of getting seriously hurt," Goodman said.
"It definitely added some excitement to my vacation.," he added. "I only went out for a walk from the hotel and came back with a bronze medal for the 18kg category.
According to www.fortunebusinessinsights.com, sports tourism's market size was valued at US$544.38 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from US$618.69 billion in 2024 to US$2,089.58 billion by 2032, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 16.43 per cent during the forecast period. Europe dominated sports tourism with a market share of 40.34 per cent in 2023.
The growing popularity of sports tournaments such as the Cricket World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, NBA Finals, Rugby World Cup, Wimbledon, and others globally have boosted the growth of the sports tourism industry.
