By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Paul Pennicook... director of Tourism.
CAYMANAS PARK, the home of horse racing in Jamaica, will soon become a tourist attraction.
This was announced yesterday by representatives of Our Story Tours and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), promoters of racing at Caymanas Park, at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel, New Kingston.
Our Story Tours will assist by selling tour packages to visitors to the island and will initially assist with transporting tourists to Caymanas Park as well.
"We aim to open it up to other tour operators," said the CEO of Our Story Tours, Colin McDonald. "We want to sell them good information and get the project off the ground."
The new venture has the full blessing of the Jamaica Tourist Board. Paul Pennicook, director of Tourism, was on hand to endorse the project, calling it "a wonderful initiative between CTL and Our Story Tours". Continuing, Pennicook said: "We are in fact more than a beach. We are a country. These additional attributes are what give us a competitive edge.
"Ours is a diverse industry. Hence, the repositioning of Caymanas Park as a tourist attraction is heartily welcomed."
He further stated that this initiative will have the effect of boosting business to Caymanas Park in general and in the long term assist in arrivals to Kingston.
He spoke of the possibility of cruise ships coming to an upgraded Gordon Cay in the near future which would be a convenient point from which tourists could travel by tour buses to the track. Pennicook also said that with this project becoming a reality, the JTB's website would link up with the Caymanas Park site to enhance the promotion.
"The JTB remains committed to promote efforts such as these. It is increasing the diversity of how we market Jamaica," said Pennicook, who in closing wished the venture every success.
In his turn, McDonald recalled that the idea came to him when he read a column (in The Gleaner) earlier this year written by Howard Hamilton on the potential of Caymanas Park becoming a tourism attraction. The end result is that contact was made with the relevant people and the deal was sealed.
"Our Story Tours is committed to a cooperative effort," he said. "We all need to take credit for this," said the CEO as he spoke glowingly of the alliance between his company and CTL.
Noting that Kingston is now ready for tourism, McDonald said "let us start with what we have. We are here to stay ... we have come through the worst", he said.
Also speaking was CTL's executive manager for marketing, Millicent Lynch, who said racing at Caymanas Park "will be on the must-see list of Jamaican attractions, ranking right up there with Dunn's River Falls". She added that it was a perfect getaway for visitors, especially on weekends.
"We at Caymanas Park want to extend fully local racing to the overseas market and must start by proving to our visitors that we put on a fantastic show and have a great product with immeasurable potential," she said.
Meanwhile, today's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park will feature the 3-y-o and up Open Allowance for the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup, a race in which the late kicking MEDIC ON BOARD is tipped to get the better of old rival SATISFIER in the field of eight. Both hold a victory over each in recent months. I also like PATAS DE FUEGO (fourth), THEIA (fifth), RISING STAR (sixth) and stretch running VIGILANTE to catch the front running WITHALLMYHEART in the second race.
