Two-seater urban Smart cars are not going to be used as hire cars for visitors anytime soon, according to Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.

Even though they have been suggested as an idea by the head of Bermuda?s tourism office in London, a lack of parking spaces remains the main hurdle preventing the idea being put into operation.

The idea of allowing tourists the option of renting out one of the two-seat cars, which are almost as long as they are wide, as an alternative to hiring a moped has been looked at and remains an unviable option, said Dr. Brown.

It was Bermuda?s tourism department regional sales manager for the UK and Europe Thomas MacDonald who most recently raised the idea of Smart cars for hire during an interview with earlier this month in which he discussed a variety of possible initiatives to cater for European visitors.

But Deputy Premier Dr. Brown said the idea had been investigated in 2000 and the difficulties identified then were still an issue. ?It was not feasible at the time because of a lack of parking spaces. It did not fly then and I don?t think it is going to fly in the immediate future. It is a good idea but we have not answered the question of space,? he said.

But one aspect of the tourism package that was touched upon by Mr. MacDonald in London and with which Dr. Brown concurs is for a revival of live, home-grown music and entertainment to enhance the Island?s tourism product.

?Years ago the hotels used to drive the entertainment scene. You could go to the hotels and see the Bermudian performers. But then the hotels got out of the entertainment business,? said Dr. Brown.

?The places that used to drive entertainment stopped providing it and most of the hotels have slowly cut back on entertainment and their entertainment rooms are being used for other things.

?However, if one of the hotels was now to put an emphasis on entertainment again the others would be challenged to follow.?

But even if hotels do not re-engage with home-grown entertainers, Dr. Brown believes tourists will seek out such entertainment in other venues if it is available.

His father once ran the former Clay House Inn ? one of the Island?s famed venues for live music and entertainment. And the Tourism Minister is keen for a revival of the Island?s culture with Court Street becoming a Bermudian centrepiece mirroring the cultural heart provided to New Orleans by its French Quarter. He also hinted at a line-up of summer season events that will go some way to promoting home-grown creative talent and providing entertainment for Islanders and tourists. ?I think we are seeing a return to that and the musicians are responding well. We have a very exciting summer season coming up.?

And he praised the efforts of The Reefs Hotel Resort, which is run by Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell.

He said: ?The Reefs has managed to hold on to almost 100 percent Bermudian staff. It has started providing entertainment all year round. I think that?s a great example to other hotel companies and I wish Mr. Dodwell success.?