Reggae Sumfest gets $12 million boost from JTB

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is shelling out US$100,000, or approximately J$12.6 million, in sponsorship money to Reggae Sumfest this year.

"We firmly believe that an event such as Sumfest, which celebrates one of our greatest cultural outputs, reggae music, in such a fulsome fashion ... is a great attraction and something we can build on and partner with those organisers to bring people here," Jason Hall, deputy director of tourism, said.

"An event like Sumfest, which falls in summer, which is a relatively low period, has a greater potential to attract visitors than an event that is staged in the high season."

The deputy director said that some of the sponsorship money from the JTB would go towards flying journalists to Jamaica to write about the show.

The trimmed-down show will be held from July 17 to 23 in Montego Bay, St James, with Dancehall Night on July 22 and Reggae Night on July 23.

The 2016 staging was launched on Wednesday at the Usain Bolt Tracks and Records in St Andrew.