THE Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is hoping to cash in on the International Tae kwon do Federation (ITF) World Cup slated to be hosted in the second city August 27-30.

The JTB, the state-run tourist promotion company, hopes the event will boost its sports tourism efforts with approximately 3,000 athletes, officials and spectators from around the world set to attend the four-day tournament at Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

With the expected revenue set to be in excess of US$3 million (J$330m), Deputy Director of Tourism Jason Hall is happy about at the prospects.

“This is sports tourism at its best. We are now moving in a major way to promote sports tourism… and this is a great start to that.

“Sure we have been doing sports tourism for several years, but now we have actually organised ourselves behind it… put funds to drive the process of marketing the destination,” said Hall.

He expressed delight at the fact that tae kwon do is not one of Jamaica’s traditional sporting disciplines, which he says “broadens the country’s horizon”.

“With over 3,000 visitors coming for a World Cup event, not only to participate and compete, but to sample the destination, this is what it is all about, so we are very much looking to make some big kicks here,” Hall said with a smile.

Damion Crawford, state minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, weighed in on the historic feat which he believes gives the country a great opportunity to expand its offering in the tourism sector.

“We want to position Jamaica as a more for more… we want to have more benefits. So what this does is to diversify our offerings so persons who are coming for a tan can come for a tan and a sporting activity as well,” Crawford told reporters.

Arthur Barrows, president of the Jamaica Tae kwon do Association, declared that the objective in hosting the tournament is to promote Jamaica as a country capable of hosting first-class events, plus to boost the sport of tae kwon do in particular and martial arts in general.

“For the local tae kwon do body this is a tremendous achievement; this bid was done in 2009 (and) actually it was accepted in 2010, so it’s a four-year project coming to reality,” he said.

“Having this here also boosts our marketing and we hope to have some indirect spin-offs just having the championships here in Jamaica,” Barrows told reporters at the launch held at the Courtleigh Hotel yesterday.

Jamaica will be fielding in excess of 70 participants and Barrows is upbeat that the athletes will deliver from their end.

The World Cup will see athletes vying for the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals in areas to include individual and team events.

Jamaica’s Kenneth Edwards, who is the reigning heavyweight gold medallist, said he is under no pressure to defend his title at home.

“I am ready physically and mentally. To be defending my title at home for the first time will only do well to drive and push me, so I am really looking forward to it,” he said.