Don’t be mistaken, warns an experienced Caribbean festival producer, Caribbean Diaspora communities drive tourism in the region, and also support the development of economies back home.
Speaking to journalists, editors and community leaders at Sirius XM Satellite Radio studios in New York on Friday, Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Productions Limited, asserted that festival tourism was key to Jamaica and the Caribbean region and that nationals overseas were key drivers of business not only to musical festivals, but to the whole region throughout the year.
“Just look at the turnout today – Caribbean people have come out to find out what’s going on at home so they can make their travel plans as well as bring others along with them,” said Elmore, who was in Manhattan for the New York City launch of the 16th annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival “The Art of Music”, a three-day celebration from January 26 to 28, 2012.
Invoking a recent University of the West Indies study on “Strategic Opportunities in Caribbean Migration”, Elmore argued that Diaspora tourism was critically important to the Caribbean.
Speaking to journalists, editors and community leaders at Sirius XM Satellite Radio studios in New York on Friday, Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Productions Limited, asserted that festival tourism was key to Jamaica and the Caribbean region and that nationals overseas were key drivers of business not only to musical festivals, but to the whole region throughout the year.
“Just look at the turnout today — Caribbean people have come out to find out what’s going on at home so they can make their travel plans as well as bring others along with them,” said Elmore, who was in Manhattan for the New York City launch of the 16th annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival “The Art of Music”, a three-day celebration from January 26 to 28, 2012.
Invoking a recent University of the West Indies study on “Strategic Opportunities in Caribbean Migration”, Elmore argued that Diaspora tourism was critically important to the Caribbean.
