WESTERN BUREAU:

The WATA Rose Hall Triathlon and Wellness Festival heads into its penultimate day today.

The four-day event opened in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday.

Several celebrity athletes, including 2008 United States Olympic triathlon team qualifiers Julie Swail Ertel and Jordan Rapp are to be featured in the event.

Among the slate of activities are the 1500m ocean swim, a 40-km bike-ride, and a 10km golf course run. A 750m ocean swim and a 23km bike-ride are also on the cards.

Speaking at the opening of the triathlon and wellness festival in Cinnamon Hill, St James, on Tuesday, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said Rose Hall is poised to become Jamaica's premier health and wellness hub.

Leading player

"Our spa industry is regarded as the leading player in health and wellness tourism and travellers can find structured and professionally delivered programmes at a mineral springs spa or a resort spa," Bartlett added.

He said other destinations recognise the demand for health and tourism as potential to generate major foreign exchange.

But according to Bartlett, Jamaica has a unique opportunity to capitalise on some 40 million uninsured Americans, given its proximity to the North American market.

He said this group was likely to seek cheaper overseas health-care services.