businesses try to escape the clutches of the recession.

And Mr. Mowbray says companies must go back to basics as they rebuild their sales capability.

He was talking to Pembroke Rotary Club about the Chamber of Commerce's plans for the year.

Mr. Mowbray detailed the problems that have hit the Island during the past three years including unemployment and fewer jobs.

He said: "Some of the hardest effects have been dampened by the construction projects of Government, the banks and others and employers who have reduced working hours rather than lay off staff.

"There is greater optimism in the air about 1993. Confirmed bookings in the hotels are higher in the next three months than they were at the same time last year.

"One solid development is the arrival of two larger ships to replace the Westward and the Nordic Prince. If occupancy is at the same rate as last year, this alone will mean an additional 26,000 visitors.'' Mr. Mowbray said air visitor trends are up but it is too early to make any favourable prediction.

He said: "Up until two years ago cruise ships visited Bermuda but were somewhat neglected by comparison with other visitors.

"However more and more travellers prefer cruises and the Chamber has been putting a lot of effort into making their visits more interesting and improving the promotion of local business on the ships.

"Last year, with help from the Department of Tourism, we were able to have a local publication distributed on Celebrity Cruise Ships. This year a video about the Island is being added.'' Mr. Mowbray said the Chamber has been working hard to develop initiatives for visitors.

The Chamber has organised celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Hamilton in the last week in June.

They have also organised late openings of stores, and tied in street entertainment in St. George's, Dockyard and Hamilton, one night a week from July to the end of October.

During Thanksgiving Week the Chamber has invited American football college teams Georgetown and Washington University to play.

Looking forward to Christmas, there will be a high school band competition as part of the festive Shopping Festival.

In the community, Mr. Mowbray said the Chamber will be looking to help small businesses, retrain the unemployed and participate in the review of tariffs and tax structure.

"We must get back to basics. there is no room for either gloom or doom, or for euphoria. But there is lots of need for realism as we rebuild sales capability,'' he said.