A ‘DREAM’ BOOST
26,000 ‘dreamers’ fly in to Negril
DREAM WEEKEND 2019, the event tagged as being “larger than life”, was pure bliss for partygoers who ventured recently to the resort town of Negril, Westmoreland. Five days of premium events, pulsating music, energy and vibes saw Jamaica welcome over 26,000 visitors. The Caribbean’s largest party experience saw visitors and locals alike flocking to western Jamaica as they sought unlimited fun and thrills.
Spurring commerce through all facets – hotels, villas, Airbnb, restaurants, bars and taxi operators – Dream Weekend 2019 has provided, as it has in the past, a necessary booster shot to not only the economy in the west but Jamaica in general.
“For over a decade, we have made Negril, Jamaica, our home and that affords the business community in and around the area a sure-shot, booming week, each year. For hoteliers, tour and taxi operators, restaurateurs, down to the pan chicken and juice vendor on the street, Dream Weekend is a very big chunk of their recorded profits. Dream Weekend is more than coming together to party for a few days each year, the economy booms during that period and that is due to the influx of foreign exchange and increased spending,” explained Carlos Phillpotts, director of marketing and public relations, Dream Entertainment.
According to the organisers, a 2015 Jamaica Tourist Board survey found that Dream Weekend patrons spent, on average, $28,000 per day. With Dream Weekend growing exponentially since then, the economic spinoff for Jamaica has continued to increase. Private-sector interests in and around Negril have benefited immensely; however, through GCT on purchases, taxes on gasolene, landing fees and departure taxes at airports, the government coffers will see increased revenue.
“By the 2015 survey, collectively ‘dreamers’ would have spent a whopping $1.4 billion. To that, add increased marketing, better events and higher attendance, then draw your own estimate,” Phillpotts stated.
“Dream Weekend and the financial benefits it brings to the island are truly larger than life,” he added.