Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Despite its significant room stock, exotic attractions, and being just 70 miles away from the new Trelawny stadium, which will host the opening ceremony for 2007 ICC World Cup, it would appear that Negril is being left out of the planning for the tournament.

"Based on the current level of inactivity, we don't expect any direct bookings as a consequence of the World Cup," said businessman Wayne Cummings, the president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce. "As far as I know, we are not included in any of the special promotions or anything of that nature."

Unlike Montego Bay and Falmouth, which have belatedly started to fine-tune their preparations for the 59-day tournament expected to bring approximately 20,000 visitors to the island and attract a world-wide television audience of over 3.5 billion viewers, Negril appears to be completely out of the loop.

"We have been enquiring of the relevant agencies what role we can play but we have not been getting any responses," said Mr. Cummings. "I don't think anything will change in the make-up of our tourism model come next March when the tournament starts."

No benefits

Because of Negril's non-involvement, Mr. Cummings does not expect the resort town to derive any benefits from the projected World Cup legacy, which the Government is advancing as the avenue through which it expects to recoup the over US$100,000 it has invested in the staging of the tournament.

"As far as I am seeing, the focus is really on Montego Bay, Trelawny and Kingston so, as a consequence, I believe the World Cup legacy might well bypass us here in Negril," Mr. Cummings continued. "There is no question in my mind that Negril is being left out."

Though apparently disappointed, Mr. Cummings said he was not surprised by the treatment being meted out to Negril, noting it was typical of the general treatment of the north coast.

"The north coast has always been on autopilot. If something good happens for us, it is all well and good but otherwise it does not seem to matter," added Mr. Cummings. "This World Cup is a glorious opportunity to market Jamaica's tourism in totality so it is really a shame that Negril is being left out.