Exuma is set for a huge economic boost the last weekend in April and first weekend in May with Fyre Festival executives preparing to bring almost 3,000 people in for the music festival.
Exuma's National Family Island Regatta will also be taking place at the same time. Bahamians typically pour into Great Exuma for the regatta, filling hotel rooms and rental properties.
According to the Fyre Festival website, the first weekend of the festival, April 28-30, is already sold out and the second weekend, May 5-7, has only VIP tickets remaining online at a price of $3,495. These tickets include private air travel from Florida to the Exumas. It is not yet known if tickets will be made available for locals.
Guardian Business contacted Fyre Festival officials last week for comment on the project, but only received an automatic response stating that someone "will respond to you directly if there is further interest".
"We are very excited that The Exumas have been selected as the home of Fyre Festival," Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said in a release recently.
"This music festival will bring to The Bahamas one of the largest events ever hosted in our destination, and we are delighted to welcome all attendees to our island. We're working closely with the Fyre Festival team to ensure that visitors have an unforgettable trip to the Exumas. We're looking forward to sharing the beauty of our island with guests of Fyre Festival, just eight weeks away."
Guardian Business understands that the festival organizers plan to have a job fair on Exuma today, to find temporary workers interested in being a part of the festival crew.
Sources also revealed that the organizers have contacted officials at Sandals Emerald Bay to inform them that the festival could attract a significant number of private yachts to the resort's marina.
The initial plan called for Fyre Festival to be held on a private island. However, Guardian Business learned yesterday that the event will likely be held on a private development property in or near Farmer's Hill.
It is understood that one of the festival's principals is American rapper Ja Rule. The concert is named after Ja Rule's entertainment company, Fyre.
Fyre Festival is likely to bring thousands of dollars to Exuma's economy and New Providence-based companies, as entertainment equipment and many general setup requirements will likely come from both islands.
Heavy hitting artists like Major Lazer, Migos, Lil Yachty and Blink 182 are expected to be some of the acts at the sold-out Fyre Festival. A source revealed that Bahamians could be asked to be opening acts for the concert.
The National Family Island Regatta is also expected to get a welcome boost from 3,000 extra bodies on the island in April.

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