US Virgin Islands gets sports tourism boost
THE UNITED States Virgin Islands (USVI) is now an approved destination to host National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams and, in addition to hosting basketball, volleyball and swimming events, the territory can facilitate the participation of soccer, lacrosse and other NCAA-sponsored sports during the summer months.
Governor Kenneth E. Mapp said the new designation represented a huge boost for sports tourism opportunities in the territory.
He made the announcement last Friday at a news conference at Government House on St Thomas, where he was accompanied by Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty; Commissioner of Sports, Parks and Recreation Pedro Cruz; Assistant Commissioner of Sports, Parks and Recreation Calvert White; and Nels J. Hawkinson, executive director of Basketball Travelers, Inc, which runs the USVI’s annual Paradise Jam basketball tournament in November.
“With all 24 NCAA Division I sports teams now able to travel to the US Virgin Islands for summer tours, we look forward to being part of the growth of the Paradise Jam competitions and to the possibility of hosting other NCAA sporting events,” the governor said, recognising the potential for a significant positive impact on the territory’s economy.
“This is an amazing opportunity to expand our sports tourism portfolio and our facilities.”
The USVI and Basketball Travelers have partnered to bring five men’s college basketball teams to the territory as early as this August now that the USVI has been approved as an international or foreign tour destination for Division I colleges across the United States.
Hawkinson, whose Basketball Travelers organises both domestic and international basketball competitions for college and highschool teams, said there are 340 Division I universities in the United States, each with approximately 25 sports with 50 potential teams (men and women combined) that can now visit the islands.
“We’re very excited to build on the success we’ve had for the last 18 years with Paradise Jam and to bring additional teams here. We’re looking forward to this new initiative and continuing our great partnership with the US Virgin Islands and its people,” he said.
Currently visiting the US Virgin Islands for the 50th time, Hawkinson said his love affair with the territory is still as strong as it was 20 years ago when he first visited on a cruise ship. “That’s what makes your islands. Everywhere I go, (people) are friendly ... and it’s so wonderful to know that when we bring groups here, people are friendly and they understand basketball and sports.”