PARADISE Lost, Jamaica’s first homegrown EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festival, is expected to bring more than 70,000 visitors to the island.

The event is scheduled for the 135-acre Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on March 10-12.

“Paradise Lost will host 75,000 visitors over the three-day period. As for the economic impact the event will bring to Jamaica, an estimated 2,300 jobs will accompany the festival with millions of dollars in revenues being generated. We are thrilled to bring tourists to the island and bring Jamaican culture and hospitality to the festival community,” said Jason Newman, festival spokesperson.

He said the Jamaica Tourist Board has partnered with his team for the festival’s inaugural staging, which in addition to offering top-shelf EDM music, is intended to tap into the Spring Break market.

“We’re tapping into the outside market to bring people in. Thirty thousand to 40,000 Spring Break visitors head to Barbados and Cancun [Mexico] yearly… we want to bring them to our shores,” he told Jamaica Observer yesterday.

The event boasts 25 EDM acts including headliners such as American DJ/producer Bassnectar and Dutch DJ/producer Tiësto. AlunaGeorge, Audien, Big Gigantic, Felix Jaehn, King Jammy, Lance Herbstrong, Natalli Rize, and Zion I are also billed for the event.

Newman said ticket sales have been encouraging.

“We looked for artistes with a travelling base and we’ve sold tickets to 21 countries so far,” he said

“We want to give the local market some economic power… the vendors, the craft village… It’s not just another EDM event.”

— Brian Bonitto