Travel representatives are undergoing a tourism assault course in a bid to become Bermuda's "special agents'' in the UK.

A group of British travel agents are on the Island this week as they try to pass the final test to become specialists in selling vacations to Bermuda.

As tourism numbers from the UK and Europe continue to rise, officials want to assemble a team of 200 travel agents who know the Island inside out, to carry on the good work.

At present there are close to 165 Bermuda Specialist Agents and by December they will have their target figure.

The agents' mission is to help improve a seven percent European increase in March, following on from a five percent rise in January. Last year, UK arrivals rose by 26 percent over 1997 -- making up ten percent of Island visitors.

Bermuda UK sales manager Jas Anand, leading the group, said the aim was to have agents who knew as much as possible about the Island, who could then pass on their knowledge to clients in the UK.

"They will go back with an element of everything about Bermuda, to help them sell,'' she said. The agents have to complete a training course at home before they are allowed to come to the Island.

Once here, they have to undertake a "challenge Bermuda'' project, where they are given different types of tourist -- the new escaper, romantic or adventurer -- and have to assemble a holiday for them.

They are sent off to find hotels, outings, places to eat and activities for their vacationer. Then each makes a presentation to tourism officials, who play the part of the client.

Ms Anand said the practice ensured the agents were able to impart real local knowledge to their customers and host small receptions to promote the Island.

"There are many misconceptions about Bermuda in the UK. A lot of people believe it is in the Caribbean, others think the weather will be poor because it is the Atlantic.

"People don't realise it is nice and the seasons are almost the opposite to the Caribbean. We are getting there, there is a lot more awareness than there was five years ago.

"Rather than doing a typical trip. This type of visit is unique, no other tourist board does this.'' The specialist agents' details are kept on a database in the UK and any inquiries are routed to the agent for that particular area.