A significant number of visitors will be flying to the island to attend the Barbados Reggae Weekend.
Festival director Ryan Brathwaite recently shared that outlook as they prepared to host three events, Legends of Reggae Show, Showdown and Reggae in the Gardens.
“We have a lot of interest from our overseas patrons. When I stood here last year, I spoke about persons buying tickets from Nigeria, that group is coming again.
“We also have persons coming from the United Kingdom,” Brathwaite said.
He added: “In the last seven days, we’ve seen at least a 50 per cent uptick in tickets from persons purchasing outside of Barbados. This is a good sign. The flights are booked out, we can hardly find flights for our artistes coming, so I can tell you persons are coming to Barbados for the Barbados Reggae Weekend,” Brathwaite said.
He made those comments during a site visit at the National Botanical Gardens, Waterford, St Michael, where the events are scheduled to be held.
As part of the weekend, special packages will be offered to patrons, which Brathwaite said were well received.
“We have the Live the Luxe cabanas, which are 98 per cent sold out. The Legends Lounge is about 95 per cent sold out, so if you don’t want to miss out, you need to get your tickets as soon as possible,” he added.
Since his comments, the Legends Lounge and Luxe Season Pass sold out.
Legends of Reggae will kick off the weekend tonight featuring Super Cat, Wayne Wonder, Glen Washington, Carlene Davis, Wendy Alleyne and others.
Dancehall artistes Mavado, Skeng, Intence and others will perform at Showdown tomorrow. They will be followed by Beenie Man, Busy Signal, Maxi Priest and Shabba Ranks who are scheduled to perform at Reggae in the Gardens, Legends of Reggae Show on Sunday.
The Barbados Reggae Weekend team welcomed some of their headliners, at the Grantley Adams International Airport, including Glen Washington.
Washington, 67, is a Jamaican reggae/soca singer-songwriter, drummer and record producer known for hits such as Kindness for Weakness, If Loving You Is Wrong, and Strangers In The Night.
“Come and enjoy yourself. It is going to be really nice,” Washington said at the airport.
On Wednesday night, they welcomed Jamaican gospel and reggae singer Carlene Davis who is also scheduled to perform tonight.
“It is a joy and a pleasure to be back in the beautiful island of Barbados. I am so excited and I’m looking forward. I’m going to take you on a journey,” she said.
