Government is looking to further invest in sports tourism.

This indication came over the weekend from Minister of Sports, Stephen Lashley, at the official opening of the 15th Caribbean Cycling Championships Elite Road Race at Sunbay Hotel.

???Sports has been identified as one of the pillars of economic development in Barbados??? Growth Strategy and one of the elements of that strategy is Sports Tourism, which for Barbados shows great potential,??? Mr. Lashley explained.

He added that hosting events such as the road race, or offering facilities where athletes from all over the world could come to train, were all strategies to be considered as the country sought to grow this segment of the tourism product.

However, the Minister noted that to fully develop sports tourism in Barbados, attention needed to be paid to the development of the various sporting disciplines. ???It is only then that an appreciation for sports can be cultivated and participation expanded,??? he asserted.

Mr. Lashley also pointed to Government???s plans to develop a new National Stadium, inclusive of a modern velodrome. He disclosed that Government was currently ???exploring the available options for funding???.

Over 90 athletes from 20 countries gathered in Barbados to attend the Road Race Championships, which are considered the pinnacle of Caribbean cycling.

jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb

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