Twenty-four new traffic signs will be erected at Bermuda International Airport over the next week.

The project will cost $16,500 and, according to Airport Operations General Manager James Howes, is necessary to keep the airport looking attractive.

Mr. Howes said the old signs at the facility were "in desperate need of replacing" but later admitted that was a bit excessive and conceded that all existing signs are legible.

He added that he has not had any complaints about road users being confused about where to go while at the airport.

But he insisted that many of the signs were due for replacement because "they don't look as attractive".

"It is important for the airport to look attractive because it is a gateway into the Island," he said. "We do get many visitors here and it is important for them to have a good first impression of Bermuda... we want to help boost visitors to Bermuda."

Mr. Howes said 11 new signs would be among the 24 erected and they would make directions clearer. "We are always looking for ways to improve," he said. He also said that replacement of existing signs at the same time that new ones were being erected would ensure that everything tied in neatly. "We want to have one consistent look," he said.

Mr. Howes said the signs will have "an obviously different look" from current road signs because the Ministry of Transport wanted the signs to have "a distinctive Bermudian" flavour.

Mr. Howes said the installation process is not expected to disrupt the daily flow of airport traffic and should be completed before the end of the month.

But he said the project to erect a new entrance sign has just been put out to bid.

A sign welcoming all to Bermuda complete with a set of flags greets all as they depart the airport grounds but Mr. Howes said an additional sign would be placed on the main road off to the side near the roundabout. "It will be able to be seen by people coming in from St. George's as well as those coming off the causeway," he said. "It will be in keeping with the design of the welcome sign but will not have any flags."

Mr. Howes said he had no estimate on how much the new welcome sign would cost.

Asked if the improvements were in a bid to get voted as one of the world's most beautiful airports, Mr. Howes laughed and then said: "We certainly hope to get favourable ratings from our users as we did in the IATA (International Air Transportation Association) survey." Earlier this year Bermuda International Airport received top ratings from the IATA. It ranked nine out of the 701 airports world wide and number one out of the 159 airports in the North American region when judged on the courtesy and helpfulness of staff.