TEF director sees potential in wrestling

DR CAREY Wallace, Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) executive director, says Saturday’s successful staging of the Jamaica Wrestling Federation’s (JWF) inaugural Open Beach Wrestling competition held at Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay opens possibilities for the expansion of the country’s sports tourism offering.

“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 Gleaner.

“In the case of the beach wrestling on the beach at the Harmony Beach Park, we are quite excited when there are new, novel sports that cooperate with the natural assets that we have. In the case of the warm beach, what that does is give us a sense of uniqueness.

“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 on the sport that they are involved with,” he said.

The JWF has plans on making the event annual.

“Montego Bay is the mecca of tourism. Before the rain, there were many passersby who were also visiting the island, stopping 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,” said JWF president, Osayimwese Osagboro.

The competition was sponsored by TEF, CHUKKA, and Ocho Rios Wrestling. The all-female international referees’ competition was split into three age groups, with under-15, under-20 and senior categories that were open to all interested persons.

“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.

The event’s potential pull was highlighted by Jamie Goodman, a tourist from London, England, who competed by chance.

“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 had clearly done this before.”

Along with Jamaicans, there were participants from Canada, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the United States, who Goodman said all made him feel welcome and added to his vacation.

“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 didnt feel any danger of getting seriously hurt.

He added “It definitely added some excitement to my vacation. Only went out for a walk from the hotel and came back with a bronze medal for the 18 KG category.”

According www.fortunebusiness insights.com, the global sports tourism market was valued at US$544.38 billion in 2023.

The market was projected to grow from US$618.69 billion, in 2024, to US$2,089.58 billion by 2032. Europe dominated the sports tourism market with a market share of 40.34 per cent in 2023.