Caribbean hoping for big World Cup windfall

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 1 (Reuters) West Indies governments have spent an estimated 400 million dollar on hosting the cricket World Cup which they hope will enchant visitors with the attractions of their sun-soaked islands.

Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are among the nine host nations while Guyana also becomes the first South American country to stage World Cup matches.

Hallowed cricket grounds have been reinvented, new stadiums built, and feverish venue preparations have included the repaving of roads and airport upgrades.

Tourist attractions and whole towns have been spruced up for the extravaganza, in a cricket-mad region where the game is followed like a religion.

An estimated 100,000 fans will be visiting the Caribbean to see the tournament, which starts with an opening ceremony in Jamaica on March 11 and concludes with the final in Barbardos on April 28.

Some studies suggest that 250 million dollar could flow into the host countries from ticket sales, merchandising, television rights and sponsorship.

Visitor spending on accommodation, transport, entertainment, food, drinks and souvenirs could also come in at around 250 million dollar.

But these are only projections and there are concerns about possible shortfalls given that the sums that have been invested would represent a gamble even for large and wealthy nations.

In Jamaica last year, for example, Finance Minister Omar Davies said his government expected to earn only 9 million dollar from ticket sales after spending 105 million dollar on the event.

St. Vincent's Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, whose country is hosting warmup matches, has cautioned against over-spending.

''There has to be a stop to this escalation of costs, otherwise we are going to stage the World Cup and we are going to end up with an awful debt,'' he said.

The government of Guyana, meanwhile, believes that apart from the development of infrastructure, the World Cup will help kickstart tourism there.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS ''Emphasis will be placed on developing a recognisable image of Guyana as a unique destination that combines business with tourism products such as leisure, events and sports tourism, and nature-based tourism,'' Guyana's Finance Minister Ashani Singh said recently.

But while hosting the Cup could help lure repeat visitors to the region, and build interest as a place to invest, these are all potential, not actual, benefits.

''I've never been to a place because it hosted a big event,'' said Robert Foster, managing director of shipping company Windward Agencies and a former president of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce.

Among other worries, critics say expectations are running too high among the cricket-loving people of the Caribbean, and economies could be in for a shock after the mass exodus of visitors, media and their money.

But Vancourt Rouse, chief operations officer of the Barbados Local Organising Committee, said expectations were in line with reality.

''The numbers have indicated that the economic benefits over the 10 years (after the Cup) are more than 500 million dollar,'' he was quoted as telling The Nation newspaper in Barbados.

''The long-term benefits are going to be huge.'' Reuters PDS RS1855