Tourism Minister David Allen pulled out of attending an emergency meeting of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) in the Bahamas yesterday because he is too busy preparing for a vital push tomorrow in the United States.

He was scheduled to attend the two day summit in Nassau, which started yesterday, to discuss how the Caribbean responds to the slump in tourism caused by the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

Mr. Allen told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he had too much to do preparing for the important meeting in New York tomorrow with around 50 travel wholesalers who sell packaged holidays to the Island to individual travel agents across the US. He said the Department of Tourism, together with representatives of Bermuda Hotel Association, will be "laying the ground" for launching the Fall into Spring marketing campaign for the US which was put on hold in the wake of the attacks.

The meeting tomorrow in New York's Plaza hotel will be a vital step in trying to persuade Americans that the Island is a safe destination.

On Saturday, Mr. Allen unveiled to a group of 22 European wholesalers details of an Island-wide discount programme, which will see 20 percent slashed off the normal winter rates for hotel rooms, 50 percent off buses and ferries, ten percent off scooter rentals, and other discounts on restaurants and shopping.

The same heavy discounts will be available for the North American market.

Bermuda has not sent any representation to the CTO meeting, but will be kept informed of any decisions taken. Mr. Allen said his meeting with the European wholesalers travel operators had been "invaluable" to get feedback about where the Island needs to improve to be competitive.

He said yesterday: "For some, price was an issue, but the majority recognise it is the value-added that is important. Bermuda can't continually discount, given the high overheads we have here, and as well as commenting on the price issue, it was generally recognised that there needs to be enhanced value. They were very pleased to see the new hotel improvements, caused by the Hotel Concessions Act, and extremely impressed by the entree gold floor at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. I think they went away with a very favourable impression. The general consensus was that Bermuda is one of the places that is positioned well in the current climate to benefit as a secluded tranquil destination."