The popular annual event aims to create festival tourism awareness in the domestic, regional and international markets. Secretary of Tourism and Transportation Tracy Davidson-Celestine said the event will include a community component with musical activities taking place at communities such as Speyside, Castara, Signal Hill and Mt Irvine.

“We expect that this year again the Jazz Festival will stimulate economic activity on the island,” she said at the weekly Post Executive Council.

Five-time Grammy award winner Dionne Warwick, 4-time Grammy award singer-songwriter India Arie and 2-time Grammy award R&B artist Melanie Fiona will be among the international headline acts. “We’re hoping that their presence will also cause other persons from the international market to come witness festival tourism on this particular island,” Davidson-Celestine said. The Tobago Jazz Experience will also have performances by local artists. “I encourage Tobagonians to come out and be a part of the Jazz Festival,” Davidson-Celestine said.