Bermuda Tourism Authority head Bill Hanbury has toured St George’s, promising business owners that efforts to bring more visitors to the East End have begun.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure it’s health and welfare and ensure that we have business and economic activity in the town that’s beyond it’s current level,” Mr Hanbury said. “I don’t think there are any easy solutions because it’s a complex problem, but the reality is we have to fix it.”

Joined by St George’s MP Kenneth Bascome and Mayor Garth Rothwell during yesterday’s walkabout, Mr Hanbury visited several St George’s businesses, meeting with business operators and visitors.

Throughout the tour, several business people questioned Mr Hanbury about the ferry service linking the town and Dockyard — something Mr Hanbury said is being actively worked on.

“We are talking with government about improving ferry service here,” he said. “We believe that the schedule needs to be expanded, and we are asking Government to go in that direction. The economic health of many of these businesses depend on these ferries, and we cannot abandon them.”

He told several businesses that it is hoped that before the end of the season the ferry service will be extended later into the evening so visitors could remain in the town longer.

Another hot button issue was cruise ship service to the town itself. Mr Hanbury agreed that something must be done, but said he has not given up hope on finding a smaller ship to service the east.

“I think a lot of people have given up on having cruise ships, but there is a class of vessel that are capable of visiting St George’s and fit through Town Cut. We need to do what we can to get them here, and we are working with Government to do that.”

While the CEO did receive some lighthearted flak for his choice to wear Somerset red and blue during his visit, he was warmly welcomed by the business owners, promising to help address their concerns.

Mr Hanbury also toured historical Tucker’s House, bought a tie at English Sports Shop, and was treated to a glass of rum swizzle at Wahoo’s.

“The town is fantastic. How can you not love it?” Mr Hanbury said. “It’s a world heritage site and it’s an incredible asset. Disney could never build something like this.”

Mr Bascome said he invited Mr Hanbury to tour the town because he wanted to highlight the town and its people as a vital part of Bermuda’s tourism product.

“I think that now he has a new found appreciation for the World Heritage Site that is St George’s,” Mr Bascome said. “We are appreciative of him taking the time to come up here and meet the people, and he had told us that he is going to be coming back.

“I think that this will be the beginning of good things, not just for St George’s, but for Bermuda as a whole.”

Mr Rothwell added: “I think it was wonderful to be able to walk around with Mr Hanbury and show him the exactly what we have got down here, what we have been doing to improve the town and, just as importantly, what we still have to do to make it better.”