the Island's tourism industry, all five panelists at the Progressive Labour Party's forum last night on tourism agreed.

They also concurred that the Island, with its natural assets and rich history, had a huge advantage over other tourist destinations. But from there, they differed on problems affecting the Island's tourism industry and its future.

Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen said Bermuda must stop portraying itself as a resort "attainable only by visitors of a certain lofty income bracket.'' Noting that visitor surveys showed the Island reaching the brink of price resistance, he said Bermuda must deliver value for dollars spent.

And he said one way this could be done was by "aiming at important niche markets of special interest group activities such as scuba-diving, sailing, parasailing, water-skiing, and other adventure sports as well as golf and tennis.

"Government too, must realise we cannot continue to tax the tourism industry to the degree we are doing, and expect it to remain competitive. It's the nickle and diming to death that is doing us in.'' But Irish Linen shop owner and managing director Mrs. Jane Pocock said Bermudians must regain that welcoming spirit and stop taking visitors for granted.

"Let's not burden visitors with our problems,'' the retailer told some 100 people who packed the PLP's headquarters at Alaska Hall on Court Street.

Noting that many visitors come to the Island to experience its "Britishness,'' Mrs. Pocock said residents should keep any anti-patriotic views to themselves.

"For them we should be a European showcase,'' she said, adding that Bermudians should be pushing items unique to the Island rather than complaining to visitors about how expensive things were.

Former National Trust director and an advocate of cultural tourism, Mr.

William Zuill said while competitive destinations, wage increases, a growing international business industry, warnings about overexposure to sun, and the recession had adversely affected the tourism industry, Bermuda would bounce back from its economic woes as it always had.

And he said one way of ensuring this was to promote cultural tourism.

"We should build on these lines so to our visitors Bermuda means more than a place you go to spend four days,'' he said.

But Bermuda Industrial Union leader Mr. Ottiwell Simmons said: "If this country is going to have a successful future, this country has got to have some harmony.'' Stressing that too many hotels are owned and managed by foreigners, Mr.

Simmons said more Bermudians need to be employed in all sectors of the hotel industry.