The Premier last night announced an award-winning line-up for the Bermuda Music Festival 2010 and said the Island’s tourism industry was ”far from dead”.

Six-time Grammy award singer Toni Braxton, jazz and R&B songstress Angie Stone and the multi-talented artist Estelle are all set to perform at the festival from September 30 to October 2.

They will be joined by reggae artist and son of the legendary Bob Marley, Ziggy, who will be opening up the show at the Fairmont Southampton. Local talent including Homegrown, McCartney K and Friends and the Chewstick Collective will also be taking to the stage.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday at 9 a.m. at bdatix.bm.

People can also buy tickets from the iStore in the City of Hamilton and at Fabulous Fashions at Heron Bay Plaza.

Premier Ewart Brown spoke at an Industry Night for the Department of Tourism where hundreds of professionals gathered yesterday to network.

He said the upcoming music festival was just one of a handful of initiatives to bring more tourists to Bermuda’s shores.

So far this year, the ‘Feel the Love’ brand has been seen on taxi cabs in London and vans in New York, Dr. Brown said.

In Boston, local talents Twanee Butterfield, Khano Smith and the Gombeys were introduced to thousands of people at a Boston Red Socks game.

While the Island welcomed hundreds of yachtsmen and dozens of big game fishermen.

The Premier said: ”The fact resulted in sold out hotels during that period and robust restaurant business and increased visitor spending in our retail stores.

”It is very early in the turn around. The trend is positive, but we must keep up the intensity and please especially for those of us who are in the hospitality sector ‘do not buy the negative hype’.

”There are people that want to see tourism dead and they have declared it dead. But when I see what is happening in my experience it is very far from dead, so don’t raise the Bermuda Misery Index (BMI) when it comes to tourism, don’t take it high.”

The Premier praised tourism workers both in Bermuda and abroad, and said any improvement was due to their hard work, focus and determination.

He announced the launch of an incentive programme, called ‘Feel the Love’ rewards.

It encourages Bermuda residents and “friends of Bermuda” to get upwards of 25 tourists to visit between August 2010 and July 2011.

Those who can get more than 50 people to visit the Island can earn around $2,500, Dr. Brown explained.

According to the Premier, the Island is also being promoted by several U.S. radio stations in North America.

Last week popular radio personality Cadillac Jack’ of 98.1 WOGL did his New York radio show from Bermuda. Meanwhile, this week Dan Taylor, who airs on WCBS in New York, will be doing the same.

Dr. Brown said despite the challenges faced by the industry, Bermuda was “still a tremendously viable tourism destination.”

”We still appeal to today’s savvy, contemporary and discerning traveller, and to sustain this, we’ll continue to take the necessary steps to promote Bermuda to the rest of the world.

”I remain optimistic of our tourism product’s continued growth. However, we need each and every one of you here tonight to continue your strides to assist in that growth,” he said.

Dennie O’Connor, owner of the Moonlight Club and Wine Cellar, said the evening gave him an opportunity to network with like minded professionals.

He said: ”It is nice to see so many people because we all have the same common goal and passion for tourism. But we don’t get to come together.”

Entrepreneur Belcario Thomas said it was important for “young guns in the industry” to help the next generation get “prepared to bring more forward thinking concepts and products to Island”.

He said "people like himself would take the reins from the “old and conservative” people that came before them."

Taxi driver David Bean, 55, added: “This kind of night is important to let the ‘nay sayers’ know that tourism in alive and well all we have to do is reboot in computer terms and do what we do. We need to start educating our young people and stop being so negative."

For more information visit www.bermudatourism.com.