DON “The Dragon” Wilson will return to Montego Bay for the fourth annual Jamaica International Martial Arts Championship from June 28 to 30.

Wilson who is expected to arrive in the island on June 24, will use the occasion to premier his latest movie ‘Redemption’ and hold discussions with local officials with a view to furthering plans to shoot his next movie on the island.

He has had a wide-ranging career in the martial arts and numerous roles in a variety of films including Ring of Fire, Blood Fist, Future Kick, Out for Blood and Capital Conspiracy.

He will also be conducting martial arts seminars both in Kingston — at The Errol Lyn International Martial Arts Institute — and in Montego Bay at the Coral Cliff and holiday Inn Sunspree hotels.

“Everyone needs to experience this martial arts weekend as I did last year and now I look forward to the adventure once again as I return,” Wilson said.

The fourth annual tournament will be held at the prestigious Half Moon Gold Tennis and Beach Club and is being hosted by the Montego Bay branch of the International Martial Arts Institute. The competition is being held under the patronage of former Half Moon managing director, Heinz Simonitsch, and his wife Elizabeth.

The tournament has been attracting many local and international participants, with confirmations already in from the Cayman islands, the USA and The Bahamas. This participation of international competitors is expected to boost the tourism industry and potentially open up a new niche market.

“This is another excellent example of how tourism and sport are a perfect complement to each other,” said tourism minister, Portia Simpson Miller, of the tournament. “Today, people need to have good reasons to travel and this event gives martial arts practitioners and enthusiasts an excellent reason to be in Jamaica.”

The competition which is recognised by the world sanctioning body, The International Sports Karate Association, will see numerous trophies being vied for in the areas of point fighting (Kumite), empty hand forms, weapons and musical forms. This year’s championship is sponsored by The Half Moon Gold Tennis and Beach Club, Sandals Montego Bay, Holiday Inn Sunspree resort, Caribbean Showplace, Air Jamaica, Coral Cliff and natural Mystic Beauty Supplies.

The tournament, which began on a very small scale, has grown and is expected to surpass all previous tournaments both in the quality and quantity of participants.