Recent Senate discussion concerning tourism in Bermuda, its long term decline and future prospect was quite interesting. My wife and I are regular visitors in March each year and offer the following comments for your consideration.

Surely one of the contributing factors to this complex problem is the high cost of getting here from the US. During early winter this year one could fly to London, Paris or Rome from New York for about one-half the cost of the relatively short trip to Bermuda. As I remember it the fares to Europe were at one point as low as $248 round trip. A little competition might help. Look what its done for cigarette prices! Your Government might consider attracting one of the "no frills'' air carriers to the Bermuda market such as Southwest Airlines. They now serve New England via Providence, Rhode Island and have just entered the New York area via Islip on Long Island. The US experience is that when Southwest enters a market area ticket prices drop precipitously due to competition. This airline also connects with many other US destinations across the country.

Getting ticket prices more competitive with other vacation destinations certainly couldn't hurt your tourism objectives.

DAVID J. MURPHY Edgartown, Massachusetts