Bermudians could do well to brush up on their Spanish as hundreds of visitors from the European country are expected to call here this summer.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown and backbencher Wayne Perincheif yesterday announced that a new charter flight will operate between Bermuda, Cuba and Spain.

The flights will operate on Iberia Airways through a charter with Spain based Aquatravel.

Mr. Perincheif, the local affiliate for Aquatravel, said Spanish visitors will fly directly to Cuba where they will spend ten days. They will then be flown to Bermuda where they will spend another ten days before returning home to Spain.

An additional benefit for local residents is that when the flight comes into Bermuda from Havana, it will return to Cuba with local passengers on board.

The charter is set to run fortnightly beginning in mid June until September.

?After September we may have to make it a once a month service depending on the demand,? Mr. Perincheif said. ?Next year we plan to begin the service in May when we are in season ? we want to offer them the best of Bermuda.?

The aircraft being used can accommodate 104 passengers ? 14 in first class and 90 in economy.

A round-trip ticket for the Bermuda ? Cuba run will be $950. Hotels and meals are not included.

?It is around the same as travelling to Cuba via Toronto on Air Canada, without the added cost of staying overnight,? said Mr. Perinchief.

A contingent of travel agents from Spain are expected in Bermuda later this month for a familiarisation tour. Dr. Brown said he was excited about the prospect of the new market opening up for Bermuda and our tourism industry.

?A similar programme has enjoyed great success between the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas,? he said.

Dr. Brown stressed that contrary to popular belief, charter passengers are not necessarily small budget travellers.

?Just because Bermuda is a so called high-end destination - wealthy people also make use of charter flights,? he said.

?They (visitors) will also benefit from the Euro being 20 to 25 percent higher than the dollar.?

Mr. Perinchief added that the Government was committed to ensuring that a maximum number of people have access to the Island.