On the heels of a strong first quarter for sports tourism, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the National Sports Centre announced yesterday they have extended their sports tourism partnership agreement.

An estimated 1,900 sports tourism visitors came to Bermuda in the first quarter of 2016 to play a variety of sports.

About half the teams and athletes who visited the island played or trained at the National Sports Centre where they used the facilities at little or no cost.

The extended agreement between the BTA and NSC allows visiting teams to use the facilities at the National Sports Centre for training camps.

The BTA picks up the fees associated with using the facility and also helps the team connect with other services like accommodation, ground transportation and restaurants.

“This is one of our strategies that many people have stopped me on the street to say they are pleased to see take flight,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, the BTA’s chief product and experiences development officer.

“During the first three months of the year we had Olympic-level swimmers, youth football players and high school and college rugby players converging on the National Sports Centre.

“They were here during the shoulder season when we need volume the most.

“Beyond the teams utilising the NSC we also saw new shoulder season sailing events this year and watched measurable growth with existing events like the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship and the Bermuda Triple Challenge. “We are very pleased with the performance of sports tourism thus far in 2016, and more importantly, we believe there is plenty of room for growth. That’s why we are excited to extend this agreement with the National Sports Centre.”

The NSC Aquatic Centre and the weights room have increased the appeal of Bermuda as a sports training destination.

“We have always ensured any development undertaken at the National Sports Centre is not only first class, but world class,” said Sean Tucker, the chairman of the NSC Board of Trustees.

“The Danish national team and the SwimMac teams were very pleased with our facilities and they’re telling others. We look forward to this partnership agreement growing visitor numbers in the future.”

The extended agreement will cover any sports tourism training camps booked and confirmed prior to December 31, 2016. However, it is possible for the training camp to occur after December 31.

The high volume of sports tourism in the first quarter created an economic boost for ground transportation companies like GAR Transport. The company handled transportation for the Danish and SwimMac teams. Both held training camps that lasted more than a week.

George Albert Ratteray, the GAR Transport owner, said: “January to March, and even early April, is the perfect time to have these niche sports groups come in, before the major cruise ships arrive.”

Ratteray negotiated directly with the teams for their business after an e-mail introduction by the BTA.

Sports tourism visitation was especially high during periods of March when high school and college students in the United States and Canada were on spring break.

Phillip-Fairn said: “We consider sports to be the new college spring break strategy for Bermuda. Students who are rugby players, golfers, swimmers and football players are finding a happy retreat in Bermuda where they can train hard and then relax on the beach.”

The full list of sports tourism events in the first quarter of 2016: Ariel Re Bermuda Rugby 7s; Bermuda Marathon Weekend; Bermuda Regional Bridge Tournament; Bermuda Triple Challenge; Chris Langford Golf Pairs; Danish National Swim Team; Executive Women’s Golf Association; Grey Goose World Par 3; Goucher Women’s Football; M32 Winter Series; RC44 Bermuda Cup; SwimMac Elite Training; Triangle Cup Youth Football.