As the anticipation for the main segments of the 2011 staging of the Reggae Sumfest music festival in Montego Bay mounts, hotels in western Jamaica and adjoining resort areas are reporting very high to full occupancy levels.

Checks with resorts and other small hotels in Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios have revealed occupancy levels of between 90 and 100 per cent, with the expectation that the few rooms that are still available will be filled by the weekend. Hoteliers are very upbeat about the high levels of business that the festival has brought and the benefits that this will bring.

Meanwhile, craft traders, restaurateurs and ground transport operators are gearing up for a busy schedule during the festival at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre, which ends on Saturday night.

Craft traders from the three major markets in Montego Bay: Success, Old Fort and Harbour Street are anticipating a significant increase in sales over the next few days. In addition to sales from patrons who will visit the markets, a number of craft traders will be erecting stalls at the show venue for the duration of the event.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett in welcoming the 19th staging of Reggae Sumfest said the event continues to bring much needed business and economic activity to the shores of Jamaica.

tremendous support

According to Minister Bartlett "the festival which has received tremendous support from the Jamaica Tourist Board, JTB, continues to grow and with that expansion more Jamaicans are able to share in the wealth that it brings. Large and small hotels, guest houses as well as private citizens all benefit from the influx of visitors and local patrons during the event while craft traders, ground transport operators and farmers will all experience an upswing in business."

The tourism Minister said "the marketing of Jamaica as a destination that offers a myriad of holistic experiences will be ramped up in the coming months. We want to capitalise on the entertainment tourism market as well as the relatively untapped faith-based tourism market to ensure that arrivals to Jamaica continue to increase."

Reggae Sumfest, which is dubbed "the greatest reggae show on earth" got underway on Sunday with a smashing beach party and continues today with the highly anticipated dancehall night at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in the heart of Montego Bay. This will be followed by two nights featuring top American R&B/Hip Hop entertainer Nicky Minaj, as well as, a number of internationally acclaimed Jamaican performers.