resort islands around the world.

Yesterday 50 overseas delegates joined 45 Bermudian representatives for a four-day international forum on boosting island tourism -- the first event of its kind in the world.

Organised by the college's new centre for tourism research and innovation, it will involve delegates from destinations including Hawaii; Paradise Island; Victoria, British Columbia; Cayman Islands; Grenada; Turks and Caicos; US and British Virgin Islands; Anguilla and the Cook Islands. International academics are also attending.

"Nothing like this has been done anywhere else in the world that we know of,'' said forum coordinator Barbara O'Shaughnessy. "We plan to make this an annual event so that when people think of island tourism they will think of Bermuda.'' Participants in the event -- the First Island Tourism International Forum -- will stay in upscale tourist accommodation and be shown round the Island.

Bermuda Department of Tourism, Bermuda Hotel Association, Hotel Sales Marketing Association International (Bermuda Chapter) and the US magazine Tour and Travel News are co-sponsors.