The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) has teamed up with local entrepreneurs to create a “more culturally rich” Cup Match experience for visitors.

Tourists will have the chance to visit camp sites under the initiative announced this afternoon, according to a statement from the BTA today.

It will include:

• round trip transportation to St George’s Cricket Club;

• tickets to the game;

• traditional Bermuda cuisine at local host camp site;

• traditional Bermuda drinks at local camp site;

• explanation of local culture, cricket and Crown and Anchor by local hosts.

Pat Phillip-Fairn, chief product and experiences development officer of the BTA, said: “Visitors tell us through market research that immersion in local culture is paramount to their vacation experience.

“Local company Bermuda Explorer has come up with a package that not only takes visitors to Cup Match but makes them a part of the Cup Match experience.

“Our product and experiences team provided data-driven input and advice for developing the package. We’re thrilled a local entrepreneur has come up with an easy option to provide what visitors want.

“We believe the new Bermuda Explorer experience has the potential to become the best visitor Cup Match experience to date. It’s more authentic, it’s more in tune with customer demands and it relies on the ingenuity of Bermudian entrepreneurs to be successful.”

Earlier today, Zane DeSilva, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, had issued a statement criticising BTA for dropping its tourism booth at this year’s event.

“The decision by the Bermuda Tourism Authority to essentially boycott Cup Match by dropping their tourism booth at the St George’s Cricket Club citing ‘budgetary constraints’ should be very disturbing to Bermudians and anyone who sees the value of this historic holiday to our tourism product,” stated Mr DeSilva.

“While the BTA couldn’t find the money to market Bermuda effectively or to support Cup Match, there didn’t seem to be any ‘budgetary constraints’ when it came to paying out nearly half a million dollars in bonuses to Bill Hansbury et al despite the BTA producing the worst tourism numbers in 48 years.

“Cup Match matters to Bermudians and matters to the countless number of visitors who have benefited from the hospitality and education provided over the years through the tourism booth at Cup Match.

“We encourage the BTA to reverse course and allocate some of their taxpayer funds, even at this last minute to this vital part of our social and cultural heritage.”

Glenn Jones, director of public and stakeholder relations at the BTA, responded: “The BTA is aware of the Bermuda Hotel Association’s decision — it will not manage a visitor stand at the 2015 Cup Match, as it did in 2014.

“Our product and experiences team will reach out to the BHA in the coming days to better understand the reason for the decision and to ensure both of our organisations have confidence visitor desires are being met.

“Ultimately, the goal is to provide the kind of visitor experience visitors tell us they want, and at this year’s Cup Match we believe we are well on our way to meeting that objective.”