Bermuda?s new Director of Tourism looks likely to be a foreigner after seven local applicants for the job were turned down, has learned.

The top position, which has been vacant since November, is currently being advertised in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Caribbean.

Tourism Minister Renee Webb said last night that seven Bermudians and two foreigners applied for the post.

The seven Bermudians were interviewed and none was deemed suitable, and the two overseas candidates were not interviewed, she said.

Ms Webb said it was still possible a Bermudian may get the $120,000-a-year Tourism Director?s post if they apply this time around.

Bermudians Richard Eve and Deanna Wade have been Acting Directors of Tourism since last November when former Director Judith Hall Bean moved to the Cabinet Office.

The Minister caused alarm in the Civil Service last November when she said the new director would ?more than likely? come from overseas.

The appointment is made by the Public Service Commission and civil servants said it was wrong for Ms Webb, who has no role in the process, to express an opinion.

Last night, Ms Webb told : ?It could possibly be a non-Bermudian, but there could be a Bermudian who wants to apply this time.

?But none were successful in the first round, which was disappointing because we wanted to have a Director of Tourism in place as soon as possible but it is taking longer than we hoped for.?

When asked her preference, she said: ?My preference would be to have the best person for the job.

?If there was a suitably qualified Bermudian that would be ideal, but in the first tranche, none of the (local) people who applied was deemed suitable so now we are re-advertising in the UK the Caribbean and Canada.?

The deadline for applications for Director of Tourism is April 16.