Premier Dr. Ewart Brown outlined a number of initiatives to encourage visitors to the Island as the tourism industry is hit by recession and the global economic downturn.

The measures announced yesterday at a Ministry of Tourism and Transport press conference, include:

l Partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association (BHA) in the 'Compliments of Bermuda' $200/$300/$400 promotion, from November 2008 to March. The Department of Tourism provided $650,000 in subsidised funding to hotels for the hotel package promotion.

l Government contributed a total $900,000 to hotels for joint promotions with Bermuda Tourism in the fall and winter of 2008-9. This resulted in 5,031 bookings, or 10,062 passengers.

l A 'Sizzling Summer 400 Program' to mark Bermuda's 400th anniversary of permanent settlement, will provide a credit of $400 to visitors spending four nights of more on the Island.

l The Department of Tourism executive team completed a 2009/2010 sales and marketing plan in mid-February. Dr. Brown, Tourism Minister, said this was "designed specifically to address the current challenges faced by Bermuda in the face of the current economic downturn".

This includes more emphasis on digital (Internet) marketing. The Royal Gazette reported in March $2.5 million has been allocated to digital and interactive marketing, with a revamped Bermuda Tourism website and more marketing on social networking sites.

Marketing efforts will also focus on the "core northeast market with secondary attention to the UK, Canada and Europe".

l The Premier, the Director of Tourism and the director of Global Operations, have given presentations to industry partners in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Dr. Brown said: "Approximately 25 percent of Bermuda's business is attributed to retail travel agents and we will continue that commensurate level of support to this distribution channel."

l Speaking engagements. Dr. Brown said this was a means for Bermuda "to get word out on the street about our outstanding tourism product".

He cited a speech to the Young Presidents' Organisation at a regional function in Miami as an example, and said the aim was to get business leaders inspired to visit Bermuda for a retreat.

l New marketing partnerships with the Boston Red Sox and the Deutsche Bank Golf Championship. A Red Sox Bermuda Night is to take place at Fenway Park on June 19.

l The course renovations are now complete for the new Port Royal Golf Course and the Premier said Tourism has "big plans for Port Royal" in its strategy, with plans to focus on New England in marketing.

l The Bermuda International Love Festival. Dr. Brown said this year's sponsors included: Elle, W, and Departures magazines, Golf World, Robb Report, Veranda, Chopard Jewellers and JetBlue. The partnerships would lead to more "editorial coverage of Bermuda".

Dr. Brown said that while this year's Love Festival attracted 160 people, next year the target would be 300.

l Salsa dancing and street festivals could feature among the activities on offer this summer. The Department of Tourism is sponsoring free events around the Island, which include: an increased schedule for the 'St. George's Historical Reenactment; storytelling in Bob Burns Park; 'Gombey Saturdays' at Par-la-Ville Park; a 'Taste of Bermuda Calypso Sundays' at Royal Naval Dockyard; and the return of Movies on the Beach.

l Whenever cruise ships are berthed at Dockyard on a Saturday, the ferry service will operate to St. George's with four round trips a day. Dr. Brown said: "We are providing this service in response to input received from residents and businesses in St. George's."