Tennis coach Lionel Eli (lt) with Gerald Cozier, the Barbados Tourism Authority’s Manager of Corporate Affairs and Quality Assurance at Paragon Tennis Club last week.

Eli, who is currently in Barbados with members of his Toronto-based tennis academy, said the region is missing out on several opportunities to attract visitors to the Caribbean who are interested in training in ideal climatic conditions.

“Whether it’s tennis, swimming, football or cricket, the Caribbean has a lot of facilities which are under-utilised,” said Eli, whose nine-member tennis group – comprising medical, software development and business professionals – took part in physical training and tennis coaching alongside both Eli and Barbados-based tennis coach George Grant this past week.

Eli, who has been conducting clinics for both senior and junior overseas groups in Barbados for about 10 years, maintains that “Life Needs the Caribbean,” and adds “the Caribbean is a place to enhance not only your sports skills, but to improve one’s health, especially with the abundance of fresh air, fruits, vegetables and fish …. not to mention the therapeutic Caribbean waters that have many healing properties.”

From left: Canadian tennis player Ravi Mall, Dr. Sherry Belle of Paragon Tennis Club, Lionel Eli, Lorin Rovan of Canada, Paragon’s Rosemarie Jones and Canadian April Manahan at Paragon Tennis Club.

The certified tennis coach, personal trainer and injury therapist said he is committed to continue introducing visitors to Barbados and possibly neighbouring islands, but he believes his efforts to grow the sports tourism market would yield greater results with the marketing support of Caribbean tourism organisations. “Imagine if we had a proactive strategy to work with professionals in the marketplace … this business would grow exponentially,” said Eli, who thanked the Barbados Tourism Authority for assisting with his group’s airport transfers on the island.

Eli, a former Barbados Davis Cup player and coach whose Canadian students are ranked among the top 10 in Canada, said the region has a natural competitive advantage that even hoteliers ought to take advantage of. “There is much more to the Caribbean than sun, sand, sea and an all-inclusive experience – hotels should market their sporting facilities because today’s travelers, whether on business or vacation, are making health and fitness a priority.”