Squeeze: Dancehall’s pull on tourists diminishing5 min read

Veteran DJ Squeeze believes tourists are not coming to Jamaica for culture in the numbers they ought to.

According to Squeeze, who celebrates 40 years in music this year, other countries have adopted the Jamaican culture to their own benefit.

He is therefore recommending that Jamaican culture be merged with the island’s beauty. He used Tony Rebel’s annual Rebel Salute as the perfect example.

Speaking with the star he said “We have to have authentic events that are geared towards the tourism side of the business and create unique areas like the Grizzly’s Plantation. Those are locations that we should enhance under the tourism move. The stadium in Trelawny should be about music and entertainment instead of just sitting there.”

But THE STAR recently attended Weddy Weddy Wednesdays, and among the audience were a strong contingent of Japanese and Germans.

Iconic sound system owner Wee Pow said he has never seen a decrease in the attendance of foreigners to the event.

“I have seen no decrease in visits, only increase,” he said.

The recent staging of Weddy Weddy also saw a performance from Japanese sound system Yard Beat, whose ability to speak patois amazed patrons, as they played reggae and dancehall selections.