Retired hotelier W.A. (Toppy) Cowen has taken over the helm of one of Tourism's booster clubs.

He replaces the Visitor Industry Partnership Council's first chairman E.

Michael Jones who has held that post since February, 1995.

Mr. Jones yesterday announced he was stepping down to spend more time with his family, his colleagues at British American Insurance, and to carry out more volunteer work in the Town of St. George.

He is also expected to vie for the seat of Mayor of the Corporation of St.

George's which will be vacated by Henry Hayward in November.

"I have spent the past six years with the Tourist Board, the last two years as chairman of the Visitor Industry Partnership,'' Mr. Jones pointed out. "We have completed a number of initiatives and I would like to thank the committee members, and in particular the executive who have met weekly for the last 15 months or so.

"The time is opportune for a change in leadership as a number of new initiatives are just about to begin and I would like to spend more time with my associates at British American Insurance and with the volunteer work that I do for the Town of St. George.'' He added that the VIP was an exciting volunteer organisation which needed the support of everyone.

The organisation's mission is to "inspire the people of Bermuda to work together to make a commitment to revitalise the visitor industry to be globally competitive in the 21st Century.'' And Mr. Jones said Mr. Cowen was the perfect person to lead such a mission.

"Toppy has 30-plus years of experience in the visitor industry and will bring a wealth of information and a great deal of excitement to the Partnership,'' he pointed out.

"I will continue the association with VIP as a member of the executive committee and I look forward to working closely with Toppy on exciting new projects.'' Such projects will include extending representation on the VIP's executive board and its ambassador programme, offered at the airport, to cruise ship visitors. Mr. Cowen said: "Our goal at VIP is to continue building confidence with strategies that are clear and straightforward.

"Over the last several months we have acknowledged and expressed appreciation to those who have worked diligently in our hospitality industry with print ads in our local newspapers. Perhaps we have not made the impact that was first visualised. However, within a short period of time we hope to create a circle of influence that will offer new inspiration and re-shape our thinking for the future.'' Mr. Cowen also disclosed that the VIP was considering additional professional assistance to formulate a plan on how it could involve virtually everyone in Bermuda.

"My first official courtesy call in seeking a partnership commitment was with the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, Derrick Burgess,'' he pointed out. "I think we are both confident and optimistic about a better Bermuda.'' Mr. Cowen -- who is also deputy chairman of the Bermuda Road Safety Council and chairman of the Police Eastern Consultative Committee which is exploring ways of bridging community and Police relationships -- added: "We (the VIP) feel our task cannot be fulfilled unless the community itself shoulders its responsibilities for tackling particular problems in their area.''