Philipsburg, St. Maarten: Friday July 24, 2015 members of the St. Maarten Soccer Association executive board met with the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Transportation (TEATT) Claret Connor within his capacity as Minister of TEAT and as Minister representing the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports. The meeting was held to give the respective Ministries an update on the planning progress of the tournament.
The tournament, which has been held on Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands in the past will consist of 15 teams from across the region, and St. Maarten has been given the opportunity to join the regional football fraternity by hosting it this year. The island can estimate to receive around 1000 persons including players, coaches, staff, dignitaries and athlete family members who will all be based on St. Maarten over a two week period.
The Minister of ECYS championed the tournament as an excellent opportunity to not only develop soccer but all sports on the island and commended the St. Maarten Soccer Association and all other St. Maarten sporting associations currently active for taking on such endeavors.
Minister Connor lauded the executive board of the St. Maarten Soccer Association for accepting the responsibility of organizing such a large tournament and the significant economic impact that the tournament will have on the island during the off season. The Minister echoed the need for diversifying the nation’s tourism product by placing emphasis on events such as regional tournaments as a positive development in our Sports Tourism niche market. Moreover, St. Maarten will have the opportunity to host this tournament for the next 4-5 years.
