The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has wrapped up the first edition of the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament, a seven-day celebration of regional cricket that delivered measurable economic gains to the Caribbean island’s tourism and local business sectors. The tournament brought 60 veteran cricketers from across the region together to compete, with four visiting teams joining two local squads for the inaugural event.
Competing sides included the regional West Indies Masters, Munroe Road Masters from Trinidad, North Soesdyke from Guyana, and AMAAS Masters from Barbados. These visiting teams went head-to-head against Grenada’s own representative sides, Spice Isle Masters 1 and Spice Isle Masters 2, across a week of matches that blended on-pitch competition with warm cross-regional camaraderie. After a series of tightly contested games, Guyana’s North Soesdyke claimed the inaugural championship title, with Trinidad’s Munroe Road Masters finishing as tournament runners-up.
Beyond the boundary ropes, the tournament delivered tangible benefits to Grenada’s local economy, driving increased activity across hospitality, food service, and tourism-focused small businesses as visiting players and guests stayed and spent on the island. To deepen connections between visitors and the local business community, event organizers added a supplementary consumer pop-up marketplace on the final day of competition, giving local brands and independent entrepreneurs a direct space to engage with participating players, traveling supporters, and event guests.
GTA leadership framed the tournament as a successful proof of concept for Grenada’s growing sports tourism strategy, highlighting how niche sporting events can drive year-round tourism momentum. “The Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament is a shining example of how sports tourism can fuel our local economy and showcase our island’s hospitality,” said Stacey Liburd, CEO of the GTA. “By blending competition with strategic partnerships, we are creating meaningful experiences that benefit our service sectors and keep Grenada’s tourism momentum strong throughout the year.”
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the GTA has announced plans to cement the Pure Grenada Masters Cricket Tournament as a permanent annual fixture on Grenada’s sporting calendar. The organization’s long-term goals for the event include expanding the field to include more participating teams, drawing larger spectator audiences, and integrating more local cultural experiences and business engagement opportunities into each iteration of the tournament. Officials are also exploring additional complementary initiatives to boost the event’s impact, including voluntourism programs, custom fan travel packages, and expanded corporate sponsorship opportunities, all part of a broader push to establish Grenada as a premier destination for regional and international sporting events.
“As we continue to deploy our 2026 strategy, we remain fully committed to positioning Grenada as a sports tourism destination,” noted Tornia Charles, Chief Marketing Officer at the GTA. “Our aim of achieving this goal goes beyond just hosting; we intend to create a lasting impact for all Grenadians who benefit from visitors coming to our shores.”