BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring delivered a blunt message to the Caribbean’s tourism leaders, calling on airlines and hotels that benefit from the sport to finally “pull their weight” and provide the financial backing that West Indies cricket desperately needs.
Addressing the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), Dehring highlighted a striking imbalance: while the sport has contributed over $200 million to the regional tourism economy in the last 15 years, support from the industry has been almost non-existent.
A one-sided relationship
Dehring laid out the figures with precision: US$82.5 million spent on airlift for teams and officials, US$120 million spent on hotel accommodations across the Caribbean — yet almost zero sponsorship dollars flowed back from airlines or the majority of the hotel sector.
“We’ve spent US$82.5 million on airlift over the last 15 years, but received zero dollars in sponsorship from airlines,” he said, painting a stark picture of an inequitable relationship. “It is not fair to the development of our sport.”
While acknowledging Sandals Resorts International as a rare positive example, he emphasized that most regional hotels have failed to match their commitment. “The truth is, the rest of the regional hotel sector has never matched their example,” Dehring said.
Cricket: Driving tourism, bearing the cost
Dehring framed the issue as a survival matter for West Indies cricket. He stressed that tourism benefits immensely from the sport — boosting visitor arrivals, filling hotel rooms, and elevating the Caribbean brand — while CWI bears the bulk of financial responsibility.
“This is not about shifting responsibility. It is about acknowledging that CWI as an organisation cannot do it alone,” he stated. “Shared investment is critical at this juncture for future-proofing our beloved game.”
A call for shared responsibility
For Dehring, the message was clear: cricket has long been an engine for the Caribbean economy, but continued success requires a partnership with the tourism sector. Without it, the sustainability of the game is at risk.
His address was more than a critique — it was a clarion call for equitable collaboration, urging stakeholders to recognize that the sport and the region’s economy are inextricably linked.
West Indies cricket, he made clear, will continue to deliver excitement, pride, and economic value — but it can no longer do so alone.
 CEO Chris Dehring delivered a blunt message to the Caribbean’s tourism leaders recently.){kind=link}