Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

As hoteliers, ground handlers, restaurants and vendors gear up for the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, organisers, Turn Key Productions, are estimating that an average of $1 billion will circulate within the tourism capital of Montego Bay, St. James, each day.

If the projections are realised, the three-day event, which begins today and ends on Saturday night, would fuel some $3 billion into the island's economy.

"This year the event is a lot bigger, because we have much more hotel rooms," noted Walter Elmore, executive producer of the event.

Rooms for 35,000 patrons

He said that, with the new 366-room Iberostar coming on the scene, the reopening of the 488-room Rose Hall Resort and Country Club and the properties that were under refurbishing back in business, the event is expected to host no fewer than 35,000 patrons over the three days.

According to him, the budget to stage the mega event has gone up considerably also, from J$100 million in previous years to J$170 million this year.

"With artistes like an Anita Baker and Diana Ross, and their requirements, it is costing a lot more for the production aspect of the show."

He said the backline, specialised equipment, lighting and sound for the event all incorporate to bring the cost up, while employment has been provided for between 300 and 400 persons directly, with another 1,000 indirectly.

In the case of the accommodation sector, the Montego Bay hotels - which are charging between US$150 per night and as much as US$1,600 per two-bedroom suite - are bursting at the seams and are unable to the meet the influx. In fact, a number of visitors have been forced to find rooms as far away as Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay and Riu in Ocho Rios.

"I am paying US$300 per room per night in a five-bedroom house in Trelawny," Elmore revealed to The Gleaner.

Commenting on the economic impact of the event, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Wayne Cummings, said it was the single most important festival aside from Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, which is held in the summer.

"It (the festival) was introduced at a time when we usually have a slump in the winter tourist season, and now its success is so significant that rooms cannot be found anywhere in MoBay and we are seeing bookings as far as Ocho Rios and Negril."

He said that more important was the activity on the ground for the small operators, which proves that the event was having the kind of impact that festivals of this type ought to have.

"What we now need is to build on this amazing base and introduce similar events/festivals across the year."

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com