Sharing a visitor's view

February 23, 2009

Dear Sir,

Heaven help the Ministry of Tourism. I shared our "visitor's view" printed on March 29, 2008 and have seen similar sentiments published reinforcing the beauty of Bermuda in her people and natural aspects.

Today's article of creatively attracting visitors to the Island suggests that Tourism's "thinking outside the box" is putting them in a delusional ether.

I nearly collapsed myself watching "the Detonators" implode the old Club Med buildings and hearing that now we are ready for the Platinum Period. I hope not to be run over by building equipment on my next visit to St. George's, as all the developers scramble to build up the Club Med land, rushing back from the Sonesta site, racing over to Morgan's Point with a quick check on the progress at the Grand Atlantic on the way to Ariel Sands.

Perhaps one should look inside the box. What was Bermuda like in the heyday? Remember the old saying "Bermuda is for the Newly Wed and the Nearly Dead"? You could do worse. It's still a lovely place to honeymoon. The vanishing cottage colonies are great places for people to enjoy a lovely setting with full amenities, if travel and mobility are an issue.

Continue to look inside the box and you will find old issues of The Royal Gazette where crime was limited to someone damaging a Cedar tree, or a cruise ship crew member was picked up with a single serving of marijuana. Those of us who want to spend a few weeks living the experience are being pushed out in favour of those who will spend a few hours buying keychains and refrigerator magnets. The Marley Beach Club, Munroe Beach Cottages, etc. are gone.

Who are these Platinum People and where are they coming from? In practically the same sentence we hear about those with great financial resources, and discounted air fares. Do you really expect people in Dubai to be lining up for the next Zoom flight to BDA to stay in a hotel which will cost three times as much and offers half the amenities as other islands?

An over-the-top resort will offer too little, too late, for too much cost. Trying to compete with gambling (gaming?) venues is a wasted effort and will further compromise the character of Bermuda.

So please, look back inside the box and bring back the Bermuda Tourism which made Bermuda the Bermuda that is unique and lovely.

MARIE INGRANDE

San Diego, California

P.s. Don't get me started on the questionable morality of shifting Island focus to stem cell research!