People are now earning from this new type of tourism product without having the big money to invest in hotels.

Jamaica.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

“The camp and hostel provide a full package which includes transportation, trips to historic sites and, of course, dance lessons which may take place at my studio at Millbrook Plaza. I have always been wanting to do something like that which contributes greatly to community tourism,” Hall said.

In its first year, Dancehall Hostel took 12 persons from Russia and most recently reached maximum booking with 34 persons visiting from 16 countries.

“Every year Syl does some form of development to his place to accommodate the groups. The hostel is actually booked up to January 2018, and for February next year, already we are counting 40 persons, so I am now engaging other people to fix up their own.”

Dancehall Hostel was actually the home of a recording studio involved in the production of hard-hitting singles like Buju Banton’s Not An Easy Road and other tracks from the ‘Til Shiloh album.

For Kingston Music Week, which runs from Sunday to next Saturday, Dancehall Hostel has created an edutainment package that includes a tour of the location, dance class and admission to the Dance Xpressionz Musical, a unique theatrical production that chronicles the history of music and dance, including traditional folk forms, drama and poetry. The package costs $4,000.

Hall said that if five-star hotels take tourists into a neighbouring community every two months, or even form an alliance with persons living there, tourists would not be of the view that it is not safe to visit inner-city communities.

“The tourist dem want go roun’ pon the corner an’ eat a box food and just vibe with the residents. That’s the kind of experience they want, so far I think we have done a great job with it. So much talent comes

from out of the communities not just dance and drama, but craft workers too.”