In the wake of a recent survey which concluded many Bermudians do not feel linked to international business or tourism, business representatives have agreed the information in the study must be distributed.

The survey, conducted by Market Facts of Canada and paid for by the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA), included study groups of young people and telephone interviews with 402 people ages 25-54, and found 52 percent of Bermudians do not feel committed to either of the Island's two largest foreign exchange earners.

"These results will be a starting point to measure changes (we must) make sure the information is communicated,'' said Mr. Stephen Kempe, executive vice president international business, Bank of Butterfield.

"International business is a large component of our business and it does concern us that such a large percentage of the community does not feel a commitment to international business and/or tourism -- tourism particularly because it has been a major component for a longer period of time,'' he added.

The survey found that young people and adults had a "superficial'' understanding of international business while the adults indicated a "sense of racial and gender inequality when it comes to job opportunities and advancement'', according to a release from BIBA.

It also determined black Bermudians do not feel they have equal opportunity for job hiring and advancement but the findings showed education was thought to be an equalising factor and it was felt increased international business would be good for Bermuda.

Mr. Glen Gibbons, president of the Bermuda Insurance Institute (BII), said that group's executive plans to assist in getting more information about the insurance industry to the public, and to schools through guidance counsellors.

The survey cited guidance counsellors as lacking sufficient information about this part of the economy because much of their time was taken up by administrative matters.

"The BII's education committee and young members' committee have in the past focussed on informing -- we see some potential to work closer with BIBA on this issue, the information needs to get out to a wider audience,'' added Mr.

Gibbons.

The BII plans to discuss the survey's peaks with BIBA as well as at a council meeting of the executive, he added.

"BIBA certainly will be acting on the results, there are some clear gaps and issued that have been raised,'' said Mr. Cummings Zuill, BIBA chairman.

Noting that this survey, like the one conducted earlier this year to measure the international communities awareness of Bermuda business, "was a benchmark survey but it is important to learn from it -- it is an Island-wide survey to be shared,'' he said.

BIBA's role will be as a coordinator for the various groups who are all interested in education, Mr. Zuill added.

Ms Wendy Davis Johnson, BIBA marketing manager, said that the organisation had received only one inquiry from a BIBA member asking when the full report will be available.

There has been no other reaction as yet, she added.

"BIBA is eager to share the information with other organisations,'' she added.

The full document is pending upon approval by the BIBA executive. They meet this week and the full report is likely to be available shortly thereafter.