boost falling trade and tourism.

Members of the Visitor Retail Division (VRD), part of the Chamber of Commerce, brought their first year together to a close by urging other businesses to get on board.

The group formed a year ago in a bid to turn decreasing sales around and find ways of encouraging more tourists to the Island.

Chairman Ian Smith, general manager of Astwood Dickinson jewellers, said it was in every retailer's best interests to join the group.

It has 56 members to date, but the more that join, the stronger it will be. He said: "We all want the same things for Bermuda. I would like to see as many retailers involved in the group as possible. The more people who join, the stronger we will be.

"I think we all have a common goal -- to improve retail and tourism on the Island. We have a lot of members, but there are a lot more that could get involved.

"The group gives people a voice. If they have concerns this is the place to air them. I do believe that we can change things for the better if we work together.'' Last year, members of the group met with the Minister of Tourism to discuss the problem of falling tourism, and, as a result, a small conduit team of private sector representatives was formed.

The team was asked by minister David Allen to carry out a survey and draw up a tourism strategy. Earlier this month, they presented the minister with their findings and suggestions for the future.

At the group's annual general meeting at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on Tuesday, Mr. Smith said the group had found that overall arrivals on the Island had decreased from 610,000 in 1980 to 552,000 in 1999.

The average length of stay of visitors had dropped, the spending of air visitors had declined by more than $165 million in real terms since 1980, while the total cruise visitor spending had increased by only $15 million during the same period.

Mr. Smith added: "In other words, fewer visitors are coming for less time and spending less while they're here. Clearly our tourism industry is in jeopardy.

A formula for change is essential.'' He said the group wanted to see the number of air arrivals increased to 500,000, the cruise volume remain at 1998 levels of 170,000, spending increased per day by 20 per cent and hotel occupancy raised to 70 percent.

He said everybody should be targeting the affluent traveller and promoting Bermuda as the place to escape the stress of today's lifestyles.

During the last year the group has set up a number of initiatives in a bid to turn the current climate around.

It organised a school outreach programme to make students aware of the scope and diversity of employment opportunities within retail, launched a Bermuda Retail Diploma to improve customer care and staff skills, and started Sunday shopping before Christmas. It is also looking at a number of marketing initiatives.

In just a short space of time, Mr., Smith said, the group had already made an impact.

"With everybody, large and small firms, on board, there is no reason why we cannot succeed,'' he added.

At the meeting on Tuesday a new executive committee was voted in. Mr. Smith will continue to be chairman, while the other six executive members are George Grundmuller, Stuart Joblin, Lawrence Trimingham, Ronald Maughan, Kristina Viera and Charles Gosling.

For more information about the group, call Mr. Smith on 292-5805.