And while Paris has the Olympics, San Pedro has the International Music and Food Festival.
But, If you haven't booked a hotel on either of the islands yet, it may be a little too late. The BIMFF kicks off tomorrow and hotels have been booked out for a while.
And with the concert approaching, the headliners began arriving today. Two flights touched down around midday with the performers you've been waiting to see.
And they're not just here to just give you a "hit and run."
Courtney Menzies was at the PGIA today and has this story.
Shenseea, Collie Buddz, Valiant, Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons, and Kerwin Du Bois touched down at the PGIA this morning, ahead of the third annual Belize International Music and Food Festival.
The show promises a star-studded lineup for both the mega and the day concert. And these big names across the region will be gracing the stage along with Belizean artists.
They are more than ready for tomorrow.
Valiant, Jamaican Artist
"It's an amazing feeling, it's my first time in Belize, so just come out, give a good energy, and receive a good energy from the people."
Collie Buddz, Bermudan Artist
"I want to thank the Belize Tourism Board for bringing us here, it's been way too long since I've been here. I love Belize, the energy when I first came here back in 2009 I think it was, it was jut amazing and I just wanted to thank again Belize Tourism Board for putting on a show and I'm happy to be here."
And these artists serve as role models for our local musicians - some of them having reached heights beyond the imagination. One such Trinidadian artists had a few words of advice - that it's important to keep your eyes open for any and every opportunity.
Bunji Garlin, Trinidadian Artist
"We exist as very borderline by festivities and we only shine when the festivities is at its prime, at its height and until then we have to wait for the cycle. So when we manage to step out of the bounds, step out of the walls of what we're expected and what we're known for, it's a testament to what we are able to do as a people. the issue will always be though capitalizing on it for most people and taking this moment and turning it into another moment, or continuous moment. That's something I, Fay, and a few others around us have been focused on for the past ten years or so because these opportunities, they always come around. Most people don't get to see it because they're embedded in the moment of the festivities and the carnival and the whine and the niceness, that we don't see opportunities passing right outside, we miss it but they are always there. But when we manage to grab them, we always try to turn them over into something continuous, continuous."
And Fay Ann Lyons says that that can only happen with the support of the people:
Fay Ann Lyons, Trinidadian Artist
"No man's an island so you kinda need the people to get behind the artist. A lot of the time we have real talent people from very small corners of the world and one of the problems they have is that they're marketing themselves but when we look at the country where they're from, the support is not there and I have a
saying, if you have a home and you don't eat from your own home then why should the outside people consume what you are producing. The production part of the support starts with the people from Belize and then it will segue into the entire universe and the entire world, supporting your artists, if you are not supporting your own artists then you cannot be upset if other people don't support them so shows like this should be used as a marketing tool to put them in front of audiences that will come out to see other artists and this is one of the ways that you use events and festivals to promote your artist, and ensuring that you're not waiting for them to get international success and then claim them."
And each of these artists have made their respective countries proud, and their music has reached millions of people outside their borders and the region. Shenseea - arguably one of the most anticipated artists - says her music is made to uplift all the women who listen.
Shenseea, Jamaican Artist
"I think I was to empower women to do whatever it is they feel they want to do. For me, as a woman, I hate when people tell me or try to give me limitations or try to give me boundaries especially when I work so hard, so many women out there, we work so hard, 9-5 for our independence so we can do whatever we want to do, so I always encourage women to just be themselves, not to say promiscuous and promiscuity no, it's just more if you enjoy something, do it, and put your own rules for your life, don't let anyone control you, that's it."
Following the press conference these artists caught a flight to San Pedro to prepare for tomorrow's concert.
The mega concert starts tomorrow evening, and the day party will be on Sunday.
