discount scheme.

And Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the new-look Temperature Guarantee Programme, now in its fifth year, is hitting the mark in the Island's overseas markets.

Mr. Dodwell said that surveys in the past had shown overseas opinion seriously underestimated the Island's wintertime climate.

But he said: "The programme has worked very well for us in terms of communicating to the travel trade, as well as consumers, accurate information about Bermuda's weather in the winter period.

"From our standpoint, it's a way of communicating to the traveller and the travel agent that Bermuda is actually a very comfortable place to be in the wintertime.

"We were up on arrivals this year over last year -- not a lot, but it was up.

That's why we kept it going. But like any programme it takes a while to be absorbed.'' The scheme kicks in when the temperature in the first three months of the year drops below 68 degrees. Among the benefits are a ten percent room rate discount, free admission to attractions, including National Trust properties, a one-day transport pass for bus and ferry travel and cut-price shopping.

Tourists are also issued with a special `Bermuda Passport' listing discounts available.

All visitors, except those on group travel at already-discounted rates, can take advantage of the savings on offer.

Mr. Dodwell downplayed defections from the scheme. Seven hotels, the National Gallery and the Maritime Museum have all pulled out.

But Mr. Dodwell said the hotels were all of the smaller guest-house type and did not amount to a significant number of beds.

He added that he understood the tight budgets of the National Gallery and Maritime Museum, especially in light of the record 42 sub-68 degree days last year.

Mr. Dodwell said: "We understand that it is simply a matter of budgetary considerations rather than the merit of the programme itself.'' He added: "There was still considerable media interest in the programme last year in the US and Canada and it is good to see that, despite the relatively high number of days not recorded as not reaching 68 degrees last time, the 1997 programme is still being supported by a total of 19 hotels as well as local cultural attractions and more than 40 shops.

"We are very pleased that so many of our industry partners see the continued value of the programme, as we do.'' For this year, the scheme has a new logo and promotional materials to publicise the scheme among visitors.