The new African Diaspora Heritage Trail is receiving strong and broad-based support on an international level, Tourism Minister David Allen told the House of Assembly yesterday.

The Trail includes such historic and cultural events and sites as Cup Match, the Gombey dancers, the Diary of Mary Prince, Black and Native American ancestry, religion, Dockyard, and West Indian immigration to the Island.

It links history and culture in Bermuda identified with the evolution of people of African descent in our country, Mr. Allen said.

He told the House about his recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa, with Premier Jennifer Smith, to present the project in detail to ministers and directors of the Africa Travel Association. The project received unanimous endorsement.

Ms Smith was also invited to be one of three keynote speakers at the opening ceremony of the Congress, Mr. Allen said. She emphasised Bermuda's tourism industry and the Heritage Trail in her address, which was warmly received.

The Bermuda delegation was also warmly received at the South African Parliament, and the Heritage Trail was officially endorsed by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism, which is affiliated with the World Tourism and Travel Council.

Mr. Allen informed the House that the newly published guide to the Trail is being widely distributed not only in Bermuda, but through the Ministry of Tourism's offices overseas.

He also said that the Ministry is currently reviewing applicants to be its agency of record representing it in the African American tourism market,

"Few projects launched by the Ministry of Tourism have sparked such interest and enthusiasm in so short a period of time as the African Diaspora Heritage Trail," Mr. Allen told the House. "Contrary to some erroneous reports, extensive consultation did in fact take place between the Ministry and Bermuda's leading historians and experts on this period, and we are indeed grateful for their cooperation.

"Bermuda has lagged far behind other jurisdictions - and tourist destinations - in giving just recognition to this important aspect of our history," Mr. Allen said.

"This Government is proud to have taken this initiative. Previously, only one side of Bermuda's history was accentuated, and the other was simply swept under the carpet," he continued.

"I am pleased to report that, as far as this Government is concerned, those days are over."