Tourism figures

August 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

The recently published tourism figures have me a bit confused. Do they include the four Uighurs?

Just wondering,

BILL HUESTIS

Waynesboro, Virginia

You need to reduce costs

August 19, 2009

Dear Sir,

I enjoy reading The Royal Gazette daily on line from my home in the USA, and the article on the drop in tourism and the remarks from Premier Ewart Brown caught my eye. While the whole world is feeling the effects of the economic downturn, people are still travelling, but only to those places that offer the deal for the buck.

As a visitor to Bermuda many times, I have always enjoyed my visits and found places that I can get the best value for my dollars, which I have passed on to my friends who plan on their visit to Bermuda. What has puzzled me is why is it cheaper for me to fly to California and other cities than Bermuda? I would like to see your Goverment start to give thought to asking Southwest Airlines to start service to Bermuda, as Southwest has become the favourite airline of many Americans due to their low cost fares. In this economic slowdown, competition is the best medicine.

The recent promotion of the Fairmont Hotel offering room discounts was a huge success, which shows tourists will invest in trips that are bargains. All of the major hotels should take notice and offer additional reductions in room rates.

In closing, a line from the movie 'Field Of Dreams" - "If you build it they will come", and I say to Dr.Brown, "If you will plan it, they will come".

RICHARD H. SMALLEY

Lansdowne Pennsylvania

Charmless welcome

August 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

Unlike "A warm welcome home" I experience a very negative welcome when coming to your island. I have been through the airport many times and though I enjoy the music, the wait and the negativity at the counter is deplorable. These personnel are certainly not good ambassadors by any stretch of the imagination. Even when I greet them with a smile and pleasantness I've always received the same lack of charm and lack of interest even though we've come to your island for vacation.

With things changing as they are on the island for the worse, I doubt I'll want to go through it again.

FREQUENT VISITOR

St. Louis, Missouri