Bermuda could be losing visitors to Cuba where thousands of people from European countries, Canada, and even the US are flocking year round.

Brown Charters owner Murray Brown said the communist island's prices, properties, and natural amenities were almost irresistible.

Mr. Brown, who has visited Cuba four times in the past 16 months, said he felt safer in Havana than in many US cities.

"It has a different feel about it,'' he noted. "People are going about their business just trying to survive.'' He said the island also had a high standard of guest properties and a wide ranging climate.

"For example,'' he said, "Cuba is 1,000 kilometres long. The eastern end is more like Jamaica and the western end is more like the Bahamas. There are swamps and miles of uninterrupted beaches.

"The only problem that Cubans have is that they cannot afford to enjoy them.'' Stressing he stayed in a "genuine'' five-star hotel which would outshine the best properties in Bermuda, Mr. Brown said: "Not only is Cuba a new destination, but the prices are low because they can afford to offer it for less.

"In Bermuda you're lucky if you can spend $900 on just the hotel. And the fact that they have their own airline is something for them.'' Mr. Brown said Cubana Airlines flew to Spain, Berlin, Portugal and other parts of Europe.

He also noted that a "very large'' contingent of visitors came from Canada because of that country's strong relationship with Cuba.

"They have exploited that relationship to the mutual benefit of both countries,'' he said, adding that he had seen Americans on flights he has taken to Cuba from Jamaica.

Cuba could attract even more visitors, if the US decided to lift trade sanctions against the island, Mr. Brown said.

"We think the demand is going to be there with the curiosity factor being so high,'' he explained. "And there is a strong belief that Cuba is going to open up before the end of Clinton's second term.

"The rest of the world is there. The only people not there are the Americans.

But the American business people want to go there.''