By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

PAUL Major, the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) Chairman, said yesterday that the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival next month would exceed the initial projections of a $30m impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

Mr Major told Tribune Business that there was “no question” that the event would draw up to 40,000 to 50,000 people in Nassau on May 7 to 9. He said that based on the success of the Carnival kickoff event in Freeport, he believes the festivities in New Providence will be “fantastic”.

According to a BNFC report, the kick-off event in Freeport had a total economic impact of $5.2m, with a GDP impact of just over $20m.

“Based on what happened in Freeport I believe the event in New Providence is going to be fantastic,” Mr Major said. “I expect that we are going to have over 40,000-50,000 people pass through the Carnival village and the concerts over the two to three days. There’s no question in my mind about that.”

With regards to preparation for the events Mr Major said: “Preparation is ongoing. We’re going to have all of the stalls up, the stages up, the fencing, the parking ready and the metal detectors in. We’re using some of the fencing from the IAAF (World Relays) event; the last bit of fencing will go up after that event. Other than that work is in full progress.”

While the government has pumped $9m into the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival events, $1m of which Mr Major noted has already been spent in Freeport, over $2m is expected to be generated in “cash and kind” from sponsors.

Mr Major said that the Carnival would exceed the $30m GDP impact initially projected, although he did not want to predict any figures. “I think we will exceed them because I had estimated that of the $9m spend we would do somewhere around $30m in GDP impact.

“It’s going to be a lot more than that because I wouldn’t have factored in things like hotels, tourists and what they spend, the cruise passengers and what they spend. The $9m is only what we spend, of which we have already spent  $1m in Freeport. When you add in all these other factors I have heard you will be talking about a much bigger number,” said Mr Major.