Managing Director of Dream Entertainment, co-owners of the Xodus Carnival Band, Scott Dunn, has hinted at a possible economic boost from the upcoming carnival period which he says will surpass 2019 numbers.

The COVID Economic Recovery Taskforce, headed by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, conducted a a study in 2019 on the economic impact of various sectors and industries in Jamaica.

According to the study, the entertainment industry “generates significant economic activity” given the gross revenues of these industries.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CULTURAL EVENTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

The COVID Economic Recovery Taskforce study maintains that “festivals in Jamaica have a total
estimated annual economic impact of J$28.7 billion, with 75 per cent of all these events having an
estimated annual economic impact of J$21.5 billion”.

Carnival is one of the biggest cultural festivals in the Caribbean and the economic impact from tourists was J$2.97 billion while the overall economic impact of carnival in its entirety was J$4.59 billion.

Referencing this study, Dunn said he believed this year there would see a possible economic boost.

“We are expecting to surpass 2019 numbers in terms of the number of international tourists that
will be coming in- this year the economic boost should be in the region of about $5 billion to what it was previously,” said Dunn.

Already, the carnival season has been in full swing and the official ‘Carnival Week’ will commence a week after Easter celebrations, from April 13 to April 16. The Xodus band will be hosting a range of events such as Tailgate, Jouvert and Remedy, which are high-ticket events on the carnival scene.

Dunn stated that costumes are almost sold out and Xodus is prepared to execute as the biggest band on the road.