BRIDGETOWN, Oct 23: With Cricket World Cup less than five months away, Barbados is gearing up to play host to plenty of cricket fans. The latest initiative is to have 14 cruise ships docked at its port, of which six will serve as permanent floating hotels to make up for lack of conventional hotel rooms.

Noel Lynch, tourism minister said these ships will accommodate around 12,000 fans and help handle huge influx of fans expected during the tournament.

“We are expecting about 20,000 fans for finals. Of that number, our ports will accommodate some 12,000 and land-based entities other 8,000 people,” he said.He confirmed much of extra accommodation had already been sold out. “Indians, particularly, have eaten up all of rooms.”

World Cup also meant opportunity for West Indies to showcase itself as a tourist destination with sound infrastructure. Lynch indicated plenty of work was in progress in Barbados to ensure country would be in top shape when tournament starts.

“When cricket fans arrive in Barbados, they will see a new-looking Kensington Oval, and major infrastructure work showcasing Barbados as a seriously developing nation on cusp of being developed.”—Agencies