Newly elected chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Richard Sealy will give a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of 2014 Soccerex Americas Forum in Barbados.
Taking place October 21 and 22, Sealy who is also Barbados minister of tourism and international transport, will be joined by Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber and Soccerex chairman Tony Martin in opening the event.
This is the first time for Barbados as host of the forum, which brings together industry leaders and elite figures in world soccer, with the opportunity for sports buyers and suppliers to network and do business.
Forum topics include league and player development and sport tourism – now a major focus in the Caribbean as nations look to diversify their tourism offerings.
Recently, Jamaica announced its own sports tourism campaign highlighting its athletics dominance and is keen to develop a market for international sporting events.
Soccerex Americas will focus on upcoming major events including the 2016 Copa America and the possibility of an Americas 2026 World Cup bid.
"We are proud and privileged to be the host location for this year’s Soccerex Americas Forum. As a nation of sporting enthusiasts, we take football very seriously, and thus are delighted to be able to facilitate an event whereby the beautiful game is at the core of the discourse," said Barbados Tourism Authority CEO Petra Roach.
