Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

Professor Errol Morrison, principal of the University of Technology. - file

Jamaica's Olympic success in Beijing has sparked international interest and a new demand for sports and athletic training here, according to University of Technology (UTech) principal Professor Errol Morrison, who says the country should immediately exploit opportunities in sports tourism.

In fact, Morrison's institution, whose brand was boosted this summer by top performance of Jamaican Olympians who train at the campus, is on the verge of acquiring property in Montego Bay, St James, to expand its hospitality and tourism programme and grow the university.

"I would really urge you to take a serious look at sports tourism" said Morrison Wednesday night at the opening of the UTech/University of Delaware 2008 international conference on business hospitality and tourism management, a four-day event at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

"I think it is even more important that we consider this niche market."

Morrison later told the Financial Gleaner that UTech, whose students accounted for two-thirds of the six Olympic gold medals earned for Jamaica, had this year increased its intake of students in its hospitality programme by 76 per cent to more than 600.

"Already, the knocks are on the door; they want to study here," he said, adding that students from as far as South Africa and Qatar were calling.

"When they come, the family comes, friends come; it's an opening to show Jamaica and its welcoming sites."

Tight-lipped

Morrison was tight-lipped about the Montego Bay expansion, but said the deal for the acquisition of the property was close to being finalised.

The new campus should be ready, he said, by August 2010.

Dean of the Faculty of Business at UTech Garth Kiddoe told the Financial Gleaner that in the short term the campus would start with two cohorts of hospitality students which number 50 in total. Student intake would increase gradually thereafter.

UTech already offers its hospitality programme in the city, utilising space at the Montego Bay Community College for classes.

susan.gordon@gleanerjm.com