CASTRIES, St Lucia - St Lucia will add about 1 100 new hotel rooms to handle an expected increase in visitors for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the government said yesterday.

Tourism officials expect up to 15 000 visitors for the tournament, which is being held in the Caribbean for the first time.

Construction was to begin shortly on a series of projects including small hotels, condominiums and villas, the government said in a release.

The projects will be built by 19 local investors who will receive tax breaks and other incentives valued at US$368.2 million (Eastern Caribbean $1 billion), the government said in a statement.

St Lucia will host matches for England, New Zealand, Kenya and Canada.

The Caribbean island currently has about 3 600 hotel rooms. (AP)