For the Cayman Islands the notion
of sports tourism is a relatively new one. Over the years the main selling
points have been the glorious weather and beautiful beaches.
While those positives drive much of
Cayman’s global appeal, a worldwide recession has forced these islands to seek
a new way to generate revenue and attention.
The increase in local interest in sporting
activities has resulted in numerous meets becoming a mainstay of Cayman’s
annual events. Prominent examples include the Flowers Sea Swim, the NORCECA
beach volleyball tournament and the Cayman Marathon to name a few.
All of these events can boast a
major global presence with foreign competitors and the international press
adding to the hype every year. In addition, the thousands of dollars spent on
Island by these groups serve as notable contributions to the local economy.