fiction,'' Independent MP Mr. Harry Viera charged yesterday.

"And we've got to start doing something about it,'' Mr. Viera said.

Speaking in Somerset at a public forum on Bermuda's tourism industry before Government's Commission on Competitiveness, Mr. Viera said the less than warm welcome visitors often receive begins at the airport.

"I've had better receptions in Prague when it was under the communists,'' the Southampton West MP told about 40 people who turned out at St. James' Church Hall.

Bermudians who travel anywhere from Australia to the Carolinas notice their hosts there "really knock themselves out'', Mr. Viera said.

And while most Bermudians are still charismatic and friendly, "there is a substantial number who are not, and unfortunately a great many of them are working in the civil service''.

He related complaints he received from visitors about rudeness at the hands of a clerk who sold ferry tickets.

But he also cited the private sector, from taxi drivers to the waiter who "doesn't drop the soup in your lap...but it's almost impossible in some cases to get a `thank you,' or `your welcome'.'' Mr. Mansfield (Jim) Brock, chairman of the commission appointed by Premier the Viera blasts unfriendly people in civil service From Page 1 said its job is to make recommendations on making Bermuda more competitive, not only in tourism, but also in international business.

Under the commission's umbrella, 20 task forces were examining "every aspect of tourism that we can think of,'' Mr. Brock said.

"We are hoping that you will give us your views on what you think can be done, not just in the west end of the Island, but on the Island generally in order to improve our performance in tourism,'' he told the audience. The commission heard a variety of suggestions, from scrapping the airport departure tax to highlighting more Bermudian entertainers.

Willowbank manager Mr. Jack Harris said while the first rule of marketing is "identify your market and target it with a clearly defined message'', Bermuda was doing neither.

Bermuda was once an out-of-the-way destination that appealed to adventurous travellers, but the large number of new travel spots that have developed makes that no longer true, he said.

But some of the old marketing remains, and Bermuda sends "mixed messages,'' he said. Instead, Bermuda should emphasise its reliability, history, and culture and seek repeat visitors, he said.

Mr. Harris also said hotel managers should get out of their offices and meet their guests. "Most hotels in Bermuda have forced their managers into the position of administrators, rather than hosts.'' Mr. Doug Shirley of Devonshire said he meets large numbers of wealthy tourists in his cruise business and the complaint he hears most is about Bermuda's prices, particularly for services.

The airport departure tax leaves a bad taste in visitors' mouths, he said, and suggested a "voucher for a rum swizzle'' instead be handed to departing guests.

"If you go to Disney World, you pay to get into the place, you don't pay to leave it,'' Mr. Shirley said.