Jamaica Gets Tourism Boost From Return of Reggae Sumfest 

Jamaica’s strong tourism summer got a boost from the recent return of the Reggae Sumfest music festival. 

The legendary Montego Bay event was held from July 18-23, the first time since the onset of the pandemic. 

“We were thrilled to see such a great turnout for the return of Reggae Sumfest this year,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. “Even with the option of live-streaming the event, it was wonderful to have so many people choose to travel to Jamaica and attend the event in person. The success of Reggae Sumfest 2022 is a testament to the return of travel, especially for events, and the continuing strong recovery of the sector.” 

The event is the largest music festival in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean; it first launched back in 1993. 

This year’s edition included appearances by music stars including Beres Hammond, Koffee, Dexta Daps, Beenie Man and Sizzla, among others. 

“While Jamaica is a small island nation, our music clearly has influence on a global scale as evidenced by the international travelers arriving to experience Reggae Sumfest,” said Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White. “It’s truly gratifying to see so many people coming together over a shared love of reggae and dancehall music here in the birthplace of the genre itself.”

This summer has seen a wave of relaunched festivals across the Caribbean, from the St Kitts Music Festival to a number of popular summer carnivals.