February 29, 2012

Dear Sir,

I have been reading Dr Harris' weekly contribution entitled 'Heritage & Tourism' and find them exceptionally good reading and too true to reality, especially the February 25 contribution 'defending Bermuda'. Dr Harris, I am totally in your camp and believe this Government has totally failed all Bermudians with the lack of any effort to market such a valuable tourism attraction.

The Jamestown and Williamsburg heritage towns in Virginia attract millions of visitors on an annual basis. I have been there and have seen the visitors' fascination with these historic sites and of course Bermuda was a key player in the survival of Jamestown.

The cross-section of visitors to these sites was from all parts of the world and certainly if they can venture to the East Coast of America from the Far East, Europe, Australia etc, we are but a further or shorter distance of a mere 650 miles, they would come here for further historic enlightenment.

We need to market ourselves for the historic attractions we have right in front of our noses. Generate the interest and connection to Jamestown and get our guest houses and hotel occupancy up. The children of Bermuda must have a future and if we don't resurrect our tourism destination, their futures will be grim.

Tourism and International Business are linked and each are a referral to the other's industry to which our children can have a livelihood.

Also, as Dr Harris has said, tourism and international business must be supported in tandem, and according to Saturday's coverage of the Budget, both entities that support and promote international business via the IDC and Business Bermuda have had their marketing budget cut.

Monies gained from increases to taxes on seniors have likely been diverted to Sandys 360 Sports & Aquatic Centre, rather than continuing the support for marketing Bermuda via these two entities.

Surely generating new business increases the cash-flow of this Island which will provide a future for our children versus the Aquatic Centre which does nothing to help fill our hotels and enhance cash-flow island-wide?

KATHY LLOYD-HINES

St George's