Following the success of the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, the Bahamas National Festival Commission is heralding the direct economic benefits generated for the country. The Commission presented its 2015 Report to the media, following a presentation to The Cabinet of the Bahamas.

The three-day inaugural festival provided temporary employment for approximately 7,200 Bahamians, including direct employment for thousands of musicians, Junkanoos, administrative, production and support staff both in the public and private sectors, and indirect employment through vendors and other affiliate companies involved in product and service delivery.

Between Grand Bahama and Nassau, the Festival impacted a total of 890 small and medium enterprises, whose products and services were engaged by the Commission over the course of the year “Our main goals for the Festival were to create an economic stimulus within the cultural sector; expand our tourist product offering; develop a framework for indigenous cultural production; create a platform that exposed Bahamian music to the world and revolutionized the entertainment industry; promote Bahamian entrepreneurship; and foster multi-sector economic impacts. Bahamas. Junkanoo Carnival 2015 successfully accomplished those goals,” said Paul Major, Chairman of the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC).

“Makeup artists, models, designers, musicians, builders and construction workers, media houses, production companies, communication professionals, printing companies, security services, sanitation services, food and beverage companies, transportation companies, equipment rental companies, models, event planners, t-shirts and memorabilia, tourism related businesses and catering companies: This is just a sampling of businesses that benefited from the investment into the creative sector represented by Junkanoo Carnival,” said Mr Major.

The inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival took place over two major weekends between April and May 2015. In Grand Bahama, police estimated 30,000 patrons enjoyed the two-day, Grand Life experience, which included the semi-finals of the Music Masters Song Competition.

“History must remember the Grand Bahama Kick Off Weekend, The Grand Life because it set the tone for the success of the entire festival. The Commission will forever be thankful to Grand Bahama for showing fans of Bahamian music, food and culture a true party in da backyard. Undoubtedly, the Grand Bahama weekend will grow from strength to strength,” said Mr Major.

From May 7-9 at Da Cultural Village in Nassau, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival attracted a record number of 85,000 Bahamians and visitors to enjoy four signature events: Junkamania, Midnight Rush, Music Masters and Road Fever along with an Opening and Closing Night Concert.

Preliminary results from a College of the Bahamas “Costs and Benefits” study of the event, showed patrons got great value for money out of the event: 86% of the attendees surveyed rated the event as delivering “moderate” to “a great deal” of value, while over 88% of the attendees surveyed rated the event “excellent”, “very good” or “fairly good”.

In total, the Government’s investment of $11.3 million generated $19 million in direct economic activity ($13.5 Nassau; $5.5 Grand Bahama) and $6.7 million in estimated tax revenue ($4.5 Nassau; $2.2 Grand Bahama). The event engaged 115,000 Bahamians and tourists in local cultural consumption creating a new market for cultural entrepreneurs.

Deloitte & Touche have been engaged to conduct a more formal study of the economic impact, including the GDP impact, which examines the multiplier effect of the economic activity.

“Of course we learned a lot of lessons. We accept all of the noted shortfalls related to the vendors, and have already committed to revamping those activities. There will definitely be a review of Da Cultural Village design to ensure equal distribution of economic value in each zone and a reconsideration of the multiple-stage format in these early years,” said Mr Major.

“The Commission is committed to learning and growing each year, for there is no doubt we are on to something that will positively impact our economy in a significant way for years to come.

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is well on its way to becoming an economic driver for the cultural industry and already is being talked about as the next rival to Trinidad Carnival because of our iconic differentiating characteristics,” he said.

The Festival generated approximately $1.6 million in direct revenues (Nassau - $1.3 mil; Grand Bahama - $300k), a shortfall of $5.9 million based on projected revenue.

This significant shortfall is accounted for primarily by the lack of international sponsorship revenue, which had been projected at $5 million, and ticket sales, which did not materialize as the headliner was not announced in time and many tickets were bundled together and given away for promotional purposes and provided complimentary to partners such as the Junkanoos.

The Festival was over budget by $2.8 million, largely because of additional expenses incurred to host the Grand Bahama Kick Off weekend, to construct Da Cultural Village; stage the opening and closing concerts; implement improvements to Clifford Park due to the rain; all unbudgeted expenses.

In a manner never seen before, the Junkanoo Carnival season provided a post Lenten period of coming together in a spirit of camaraderie and revelry for all Bahamians.

Before and after the main events, there were countless Junkanoo Carnival inspired events – launch parties, boat cruises, concerts – that provided an economic shot in the arm in an otherwise economically slow period. Major said the future for Junkanoo Carnival is bright with persons (local and foreign) approaching Commissioners regularly to say that they cannot wait for next year’s events.

Summary of Junkanoo Carnival Stats

• $11.3 Million Government Subsidy (Nassau: $10.4mil, Grand Bahama: $900k)

• $1.6 Million Revenue (Nassau:$1.2mil, Grand Bahama:$300k)

• $12.9 Expenditure (Nassau: $11.7mil, Grand Bahama: $1.2mil)

• $19 Million Direct Economic Activity (Nassau: $13.5mil, Grand Bahama: $5.5mil)

• Engagement of 880 Small and Medium Size Enterprises (Nassau: 580, Grand Bahama: 310)

• 86% Domestic Spend, 14% International Spend
• Total Employment: 7,208

• 1,169 Bahamian entertainers engaged

• $800,000 spent directly on Bahamian musicians

• $54,000 spent directly on visual arts

• 115,000 Attendees (Nassau: 85,000, Grand Bahama: 30,000)

• $2.3 Million Local Marketing (Nassau: $2.1mil , Grand Bahama:$200k)

• $900k International Marketing

• Estimated Tax Revenue $6.6 Million (Nassau: $4.5mil, Grand Bahama: $2.1mil)

• Over $100,000 in Prize Money