International Forum this week.

And it triggered calls for Government to tap it from Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen.

Mr. Allen said he was impressed by how some tourist destinations were capitalising on Europe.

He also said Bermuda could learn from overseas marketing strategies.

"We could particularly learn about developing niche markets, such as adventure sports or scuba diving.'' The four-day forum on price/value issues for the 90s is hosted by the Bermuda College's Centre for Tourism Research and Innovation.

Dozens of tourism representatives from the world's premiere island destinations are attending.

Monday afternoon saw a series of presentations on established and emerging holiday hot spots.

Ms Agnes Francis, from St. Lucia Tourist Board, told how her country, one of the emerging destinations, had keyed into Europe.

She said the continent had provided the best performing market over the last five years.

There had been significant rises in the United Kingdom, West Germany, and France.

The Caribbean, with a 27 percent market share, had been performing creditably with steady and large increases.

The United States, too, had been increasing, although at a lower rate.

Ms Francis said the Island -- although an up market destination -- offered a wide range of accommodation and facilities for differing sectors in the market.

"The island has successfully secured particular market niches, including weddings/honeymoon market, and diving.'' Another emerging destination, Anguilla, also emerged as a beneficiary of European links.

While visitors from Europe only made up 11 percent of arrivals in 1990, they stayed longer.

Ms Joan Medhurst, president of the marketing agency Medhurst & Associates Inc., said Europeans contributed to the high average length of stay for visitors -- 10.6 days.

Visitors from the United States made up 64 percent of total tourist arrivals to Anguilla.

Ms Medhurst said more attention was now being directed to specific market segments, such as honeymooners and divers.

They were expected to soften the tourism decline in June and July, she added.

Dr. Lalia Rach, director of the Tourism Administration Programme at the George Washington University, Washington, told how specific policies were being pursued to push tourism in The Seychelles Islands.

These included using raw materials to create products to reflect the culture and image of the Seychelles, another emerging destination.

Among others were the development of a coconut cream plant, fish processing plant, and production of a national drink targeted at tourists.

Dr. Rach also told of a Government cap on beds to maintain "established tourist carrying capacity'' and reinforcing quality of tourism.

Among established tourist spots highlighted were Hawaii, and Hilton Head Island.

Dr. Chuck Gee, a dean from the University of Hawaii, spoke of the need to offer tourists a "total experience''.

Club Med failed in Hawaii because it tried to limit the holiday experience to itself, he said.

Mr. John. F. Curry, president of the Curry Company, spotlighted an essential marketing strategy.

Would-be tourists should be instilled with a sense of "urgency'' in visiting a country, he said.

Why should a person visit Bermuda this year when he could wait five years, he asked.

Mr. Gary Phillips, director of the Tourism Department, said he was delighted by the success of the forum.

He said Bermuda could derive important lessons now it had reached a state of "product maturity''.

Ways of "rejuvenating'' Bermuda could include investigating cultural tourism and sprucing up hotels.