(CMC) – Sports Minister Jonel Powell has hailed St Kitts and Nevis as the ideal sports-tourism destination after Caribbean Premier League organisers measured the economic value of last year’s tournament to the island state at US$88.6 million.
For the first time in its history, St Kitts was the sole host of the popular Twenty20 franchise tournament, staging 33 games between August 5 and September 15 at the country’s premier venue Warner Park.
According to CPL organisers, the figure represented a combination of organiser spend, visitor spend and sponsorship value. The total economic impact value for the country was, meanwhile, measured at US$8.9 million with the direct spend standing at US$3.3.
“I am very pleased with the data, in particular the direct spend into our economy and the local employment at what has been a very difficult time financially,” said Powell, who also holds portfolios for Education, Youth Empowerment and Culture.
“The exposure that our Federation has received to over 500 million viewers is of tremendous value, it is our hope that the world now knows St. Kitts and Nevis as not just a fantastic destination for [rest and relaxation] but also a great destination for sport tourism.
“We truly value our partnership with the CPL and look forward to developing new opportunities that we can share together.”
For the second straight year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CPL tournament was staged in a single country, with Trinidad and Tobago playing hosts in 2020.
St Kitts hosted five matches of the 2019 showpiece which CPL at the time said created an economic impact of US$22.3 million.
The home base of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who ironically lifted their first-ever title last year, the country also put on matches in previous seasons, hosting the final in 2014 and 2016.
CPL’s chief executive, Pete Russell, praised the St Kitts and Nevis government for its commitment to the tournament.
“We are hugely grateful to everyone in St Kitts & Nevis who made the 2021 tournament possible, especially the Government who backed CPL to deliver another world class event,” he said.
“Special thanks to the … Honourable Jonel Powell and his team who left no stone unturned in ensuring we had a safe and successful tournament.
“We are delighted that St Kitts & Nevis were rewarded with these fantastic numbers, and of course a winner’s trophy.”
Quoting the data compiled by research company YouGov Sport, CPL said the tournament also generated a sponsorship value of US$79.7 million for St Kitts and Nevis – the most ever received by a host country.
The total viewership for last year’s tournament was rated at just over 517 million, surpassing the half-billion mark for the second straight year.