Bermuda's bid to become an associate member of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) appears to have failed at the second attempt.

The decision to defer the Island's attempt to join at the summit in Beijing this month prompted such controversy that WTO secretary general Francesco Frangialli and his deputy Dawid de Villers said they would not seek re-election when their term expires, according to a Bermuda Department of Tourism release.

Spain objected to the Island joining, according to reports, on the grounds that it was a British colony rather than a sovereign nation.

The application was due to be re-visited last Friday, but the final press release from the meeting issued last night makes no mention of Bermuda being admitted.

Attempts by The Royal Gazette to get confirmation from WTO headquarters in Madrid yesterday that the Island was not accepted were unsuccessful.

Last week Tourism Minister Renee Webb said she was disappointed with the initial WTO decision because Bermuda was major tourist destination.

And she said Mr. Frangialli had personally approached her to try to get the Island to join.

The WTO summit press release issued yesterday said the number of member states had increased from 140 to 143 with Bhutan, Lithuania and Latvia being admitted.

The statement said Mr. Frangialli was "totally satisfied with the outcomes of the event".

The WTO has agreed to be transformed into a specialist United Nations agency, subject to UN approval in November.