Almost a quarter of a million visitors came to Bermuda between April and June representing the highest number of tourists for any three-month period this millennium.

As a result the Island has edged closer to full hotel occupancy and set an all-time record for the number of visitors to arrive during the second quarter of any year.

But residents have been warned that all the efforts to put tourism back on track could be jeopardised by crimes against tourists and damage to the Island?s reputation from violent incidents such as the gunshot murder and machete attack that occurred last weekend.

?We must recognise there can be clouds to the silver lining. Complacency, violence and inattention to detail. Each of these in their own way will detract from the tireless efforts of many Bermudians to grow tourism,? said Deputy Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.

?As a community we must resolve not to tolerate any of them and to combat any attempt to ruin our good name. Any violence or negative experience that is had by a visitor will make our job more difficult. Bermuda must first be safe for Bermudians and, if it is safe for us, it will be safe for everybody.?

Hotel reservations for August have jumped 39 percent on last year, an increase of close to 10,000 extra room nights sold, representing further proof of a revival in the tourism sector.

And more dollars are being spent by visitors that ever before, according to the latest report by the Tourism Minister with air visitors injecting an estimated $115 million to $130 million into the economy during the past three months.

Dr. Brown revealed second quarter visitor numbers for 2006 have eclipsed all previous figures for the same three months.

Between April and June a total of 228,781 visitors came to Bermuda, a jump of 28.4 percent on the same months in 2005.

There were around 9,000 more visitors landing at Bermuda International Airport, while the number of cruise ship visitors is now well above air passenger numbers with 122,560 disembarking during the past three months, just under 40,000 more than the same period last year.

Dr. Brown mentioned a new initiative to encourage cruise ship guests to become repeat visitors and opt for hotel stays. He said: ?We will shortly launch a tailor-made incentive programme designed to convert our one-day cruise passengers into return hotel guests.?

The concept is being worked out in partnership with the Bermuda Hotel Association, whose president John Harvey referred to it as the ?Bounce Back Programme?.

He explained: ?It is the putting together of a package that gives an incentive to cruise passengers giving them the opportunity to return to Bermuda as a regular visitor and giving them a good rate to do so.?

Mr. Harvey said he was also impressed with rising hotel occupancy rates, which for April and May rose by nine percent and 11 percent respectively and are forecast to jump 39 percent in August.

Asked if this might push the Island?s hotels close to full occupancy and what impact that would have, he said: ?It is always good news. There was a time when Bermuda was always sold out. It has been a struggle getting back towards that day.

?We continue to have late bookers and it is those people who may soon have a problem getting a room. At the moment we get late phone calls for rooms now we might start to see earlier and earlier calls.?

Increasing the number of available hotel rooms remains an objective for Dr. Brown. Questioned on the re-development of the former Club Med resort site at St. George?s, he said: ?Progress is being made. The developers are on the Island today and there will be meetings while they are here to continue to make progress.

?I really want to see that pink building out of existence. It is a reminder of our inability to move forward and every time a Bermudian looks there, we get depressed. I?m committed to having that site developed.?

Dr. Brown announced the average amount of money spent by air visitors on the Island has increased to between $1,138 and $1,324 per person, while the average spend by all leisure visitors is now $1,169 compared to $910 last year.

The decision to revamp the Bermuda Tourism website has shown impressive results with Internet visitors spending 60 percent more time browsing the site to check out the Island?s attractions and booking possibilities.

Newspaper and magazine articles and TV reports on Bermuda in the past three months have included USA Today, CBS News Sunday, The Tyra Banks Show and In Style magazine and reached an estimated audience of 71 million.

Dr. Brown said the record turnout for the 100th Newport-Bermuda yacht race had swelled visitor numbers, and he reported that the Uptown Culture Fest, along with 19 other on-Island summer events were giving residents and tourists more to see and do.

This August there will be a Movies on the Beach event with feature films being shown at Warwick Long Bay.

Cup Match attendees are to be given the opportunity to experience a ?misting station? to keep them cool.

?It is the first structure of its kind to be introduced on the Island and cools the air by some 30 degrees in an inflatable air-conditioned facility,? said Dr. Brown.

?Lethal Weapon? movie star Danny Glover is returning to the Island in September for the second Bermuda African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference, of which he is chairman, and this will be immediately followed by the 11th annual Bermuda Music Festival with the likes of Gladys Knight, India Arie, The Trammps and host comedian Steve Harvey.

At the same time as the music festival there will be the second annual Charity Golf Fest, promoting the Island?s golf courses and raising money for a US charity and the Lupus Association of Bermuda.

Looking further ahead the Culinary Arts Festival has been renamed as Gourmet Getaway and will be held from October 27 ? 30 with a host of star chefs taking part, including celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

Dr. Brown added: ?For the first time in Bermuda?s history we, in association with various churches in the community, are spearheading a major faith-based tourism initiative.

?From August 10 to October 23 Bermuda will host half a dozen events including the Bermuda Super Soulfest, the Bermuda SonFest, the Bridge the Gap Convention and Taking it to the Streets.?

Amongst the guests will be Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There have already been 600 confirmed bookings from overseas visitors intending to travel to Bermuda for the faith-based events.