Bermuda came in for praise from foreign delegates at the the annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference at the Fairmont Southampton Princess, yesterday.

At a session on strategies for creating a tourism-friendly destination, University of West Indies Professor Hilary Beckles praised the friendliness of the locals and the level of commitment from politicians.

He said: "Last evening so many ministers of the Government went whether or not they were tourism related. They were in there batting for Bermuda, doing their stuff. That's a level of integration and dedicatedness."

He said the word tourism cheapened what was being done and instead people should think about it as what they were doing for their country.

Fellow panelist Micheal Chastanet, Chairman of St. Lucia's National Development Corporation, said Bermuda was a prime example of friendliness.

"This is my first trip and I am fascinated by what I see. They have handled everything correctly. We have to learn from this."

He revealed his son had been so impressed by the manner in which customs and immigration dealt with arrivals in a friendly and efficient manner on a previous visit he had imported the same ideas back home.

Mr. Chastanet said his son was also impressed by the pleasantness of hotel staff and the upkeep of the Island generally.

"It was clean on the roads, (and) there were no pot holes. It was incredible. We learned a lot from that."

Other delegates also liked the standard of statistical information available from the Government.

However it was not all praise. Journalist John Collins, of Caribbean Business based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, complained of a 45-minute wait clearing customs into Bermuda.

The conference wrapped up yesterday. During lunchtime speeches, Caribbean Tourism Organisation Secretary General Jean Holder warned delegates that fears of terrorism would not end, even if the Iraq war was concluded early.