Kingston.– It may be surprising to many to learn that golfing visitors brought more than US$200 million into the economy in 2006, based on Jamaica Golf Association estimates.

Taxes derived from the golf industry are estimated at more than J$1.5 billion. This was achieved with very little promotion of golf as an attraction. With minimal additional injection of promotional resources, the annual earnings can be doubled over the next five years.

Jamaica can no longer allow these opportunities to slip by while others around us are aggressively exploiting them to the fullest. Today, the sports has become extremely popular around the world for persons of all age groups, especially as regular physical exercise is considered an important component of a healthy lifestyle.

One of the most significant growth areas in the travel industry is sports tourism. The World Tourism Organisation estimates the annual value of the travel and leisure industry at US$4.5 trillion per annum. Sports tourism is conservatively estimated to contribute at least US$500 billion per year.

Countries and major cities around the world are busily competing to host major sporting events that, among other things, earn foreign exchange and promote their hospitality industries as well as opportunities for trade and investment.

An estimated one million people turned out to watch the start of the Tour de France in London last year with London's economy benefiting by more than £120 million.

The world has some 60 million golfers, of whom about 32 million live in our closest and most important tourist market, North America. Golf, indeed, is significant to Jamaica as a tourist attraction for several reasons: Good conducive climate for golfing all year long.

A fair number of excellent and world-class golf courses with more to be added in the next few years. The major golf resorts are very close to an international airport, Sangster International, and the airlift from the major North American markets is good.

The golfing visitor spends substantially more than the typical visitor. Golf attracts a higher-quality visitor who is likely to become a repeat visitor, develop a business relationship or seek investment and trading opportunities in the host country.

St Lucia is building five new upscale golf resorts. The Dominican Republic will soon have 28 golf courses, including at least 10 new resort courses built in the last decade. Let's learn from the achievements in the world's travel hot spots and in other Caribbean destinations.

The earnings from golf tourism can go a long way to providing basic services, education, health, security and generally raising the quality of life for all Jamaicans.  Golf can help the country earn its way to economic stabilization and prosperity.