Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell has concluded a four-day fact-finding trip to the Bahamas during which he swapped ideas with key players in the region at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Council of Ministers meeting.Mr Crockwell also stopped in New York to sell Bermuda as a top tourist destination to a variety of media outlets, including Conde Nast Traveller, Brides Magazine, and Associated Press, who reach a total of 4.3 million readers.However, the main reason for the trip, which had been arranged before the One Bermuda Alliance’s election victory last November but was criticised by the Progressive Labour Party earlier this week, was the CTO meeting, which Mr Crockwell hailed as ‘incredibly productive’.The Bermuda delegation, which included the Minister’s Special Adviser, Corey Butterfield, also attended the Caribbean Hotel & Travel Association Marketplace while in the Bahamas.“The annual CHTA Marketplace meeting is the largest and most important tourism trade show in the Caribbean and in attendance this year were 30 Ministers and heads of Tourism Departments and Authorities,” said Mr Crockwell in a statement, yesterday.“We had the opportunity to arrange meetings with Ministers and CEOs of various Tourism Authorities from the Caribbean and our team learned a great deal during the conference.“Our meetings were incredibly productive and our intention to create a Tourism Authority for Bermuda was widely embraced. We also met with airline service providers, travel booking websites and all indications are that we can expect a much improved season in 2013.”The Opposition had earlier questioned the need for Mr Crockwell to travel to the Bahamas. “We find it interesting that these gentlemen would travel to the Bahamas on a trip that has been described as one to examine Tourism Authorities in other jurisdictions, when the Bahamas does not have a Tourism Authority,” the PLP said in a statement on Tuesday.In response Mr Crockwell pointed out that Bermuda’s attendance had been arranged several months in advance and well before the 2012 General Election.