Recently designated as an official destination of the international TraveLearn network, Bermuda has just hosted its first group of visitors under the scheme.

Through the Bermuda College, the Island joins more than 280 universities throughout the US and Canada who are able to offer educational vacations for adults in an array of countries around the world.

For the past ten days, the group, consisting of Americans from as far away as Arizona and California, have been enjoying the sights of Bermuda under the College's local organiser, Mrs. Jo Cooke, in a programme that has been entitled "Last Jewel in the Crown''.

From their base at Stonington Beach Hotel, the visitors have walked the Railway Trail, examined flora and fauna at Spittal Pond, delved into the history of St. George's, the fortifications of the Royal Naval Dockyard and the Maritime Museum, studied the Island's unique scientific environment at the Biological Station and the Aquarium, toured the architectural treasures of The National Trust, as well as cruising in glass-bottomed boats through the reefs (and wrecks) which ensured Bermuda's early notoriety as a decidedly unpopular destination.

Besides excursions around the Island, they have seen the Bermuda Gombey Revue, artists and craftspeople at work, watched a demonstration of Bermudian cooking by College chef Mr. Fred Ming and been entertained in the homes of local Bermudians -- all of which is part of the unique TraveLearn approach, which is for "people who take their minds with them on vacation''.

For several years now, the College has been facilitating local travellers who have taken TraveLearn holidays in exotic locations ranging from China to the Galapagos Islands. It is, says the company's founder, Prof. Edwin Williams, "for people who are adventurous in their curiosity''.

He is also convinced that cultural tourism will play an increasingly important role in a world where more and more countries are competing for the tourist dollar.

Some of the current TraveLearn programmes which may be booked through the College include winter holidays in Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Belize, Ireland, Indonesia, Costa Rica and Kenya.

Describing his company's approach to cultural tourism as "a luxury field trip with the best teachers you could ever have'', founder Prof. Edwin Williams says that Bermuda is an ideal addition to the slate of participating countries.

"What was attractive to me, having visited here a number of times, was the Bermudian culture -- and this aspect is common to all the programmes that we run throughout the world,'' he explains.

Now in its 18th year as America's leading tour company specialising in "learning'' vacations for adults, TraveLearn insists that it is not in competition with travel agencies.

"It's been recognised for some time now that the travelling population is aging, is fairly well educated and has a discretionary income. In the US, 80 percent of all travelling is done by people over the age of 50,'' says Prof.

Williams. "These people very often want a holiday that offers more than sun, sea and sand, and we fill this market niche. All of our marketing is done through universities and colleges, who can and do provide highly qualified tour escorts.'' Emphasising that TraveLearn caters to people from "19 to 99'', he adds that his company always offers first-class accommodation. "Not everyone wants to stay in youth hostels. Sometimes, we're referred to as an upscale Elderhostel, offering more luxurious accommodations and services for those who enjoy that and are happy to pay a little more for comfort. I should also emphasise that the `learning' aspect is entirely voluntary. It's more of a `hands on' experience where visitors get the chance to meet the people of the country they visit, and this aspect of our vacations is very popular.'' Prof. Williams says he was invited here to investigate the possibilities of Bermuda being included in the TraveLearn programme. "So I came and met with various College officials and Gary Phillips at Tourism, Dr. Ed Harris at the Maritime Museum, Mr. John Adams, the archivist, and many other people who have specialised knowledge of Bermuda and the tourism industry.'' Mrs. Helen Pearman Ziral, acting Dean of the College in the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education, says that the Bermuda College acts as a sub-contractor in that it markets the programmes offered by TraveLearn.

"There is some remuneration but that's not the essence,'' she says. "We recognise that learning is a life-long process and this gives us an opportunity to provide some education-type programmes which are not too formal or structured. but captures that market.'' She adds that TraveLearn caters to people who are looking for quality "but not necessarily breaking the bank to do it!'' Prof. Williams, who emphasises that all of his programmes try to strike a balance between history and cultural history, says that the emphasis obviously alters from country to country.

"In Morocco, for instance, we spend time looking at folk art which has a very strong tradition. Matisse was just one of the artists who was very inspired by Morocco. In Egypt, we do a lot on Pharoh art -- but in most countries it is more inter-disciplinary. We assume that for most people, this is their first visit, so we have to include as many of the famous sights as we can. Our flexibility is a strong point and one of the reasons for that is that we never send groups of more than 20, and the average is only 14.'' Prof. Williams, an American, lived in Kenya and has taught there. While he was at Kean College in New Jersey, he developed academic programmes abroad for his students.

Travel organisation From Page 27 "It led me to believe that all students should have experience of life overseas. As we started that programme we started to see that older people were becoming very interested in our approach. So we were taking both groups on these trips. What did become very apparent, however, was that older people didn't want to stay in hostels!'' Describing the growth of his world-wide company as "very exciting'', Prof.

Williams says he makes a point of listing all accommodations. "Educated travellers do their homework -- they know which hotels are top of the line, so we are careful to offer the best accommodation in a certain area. But, in addition, we can also provide learning opportunities and the chance to visit things that are often off the beaten track. In China, for instance, we spend a whole day in the Weifang farm area. Most people concentrate on the cities, but China is still 80 percent rural.'' Mrs. Pearman Ziral points out that accreditation to the TraveLearn scheme should help in Bermuda's aim to develop the off-season from November to March.