Delegates from home and abroad will converge on the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute tomorrow for the Island's first-ever tourism conference.

The Bermuda National Tourism Conference is the brainchild of Minister David Allen and will bring together industry partners from all sectors to discuss the state of tourism.

Travel agents, public relations companies, advertising agencies, airlines, cruise companies, hoteliers and unions will be among the hundreds expected to attend the three-day event.

Private sector business and Government officials will also be present.

The public will get an opportunity to have their say during several "open mike'' forums.

It will give them a chance to discover how the Island is marketed overseas -- particularly through the tourism road shows.

Visitor Industry Partnership co-ordinator Stacey Evans said the event was a long-term goal of the Minister but this month was the first time it could be held.

"It pulls together all of the industry partners from Bermuda and overseas to come together to talk about the major issues of tourism and how we can bring it back,'' she said.

"People who want to get a feel for what the Bermuda Department of Tourism does overseas'' should attend, she added.

Premier Jennifer Smith will open the event which will feature several discussion groups on the state of the industry and the efforts to revitalise it.

Subjects include airlines, tour wholesalers, service improvement and local tourism groups.

In addition, a keynote talk will be given by Phil Goodman on the "boomer generation'' and the results of the Island-wide tourism survey will be given.

Extra viewing rooms have been set up at the BUEI to handle the amount of people expected to attend the event.

The whole event culminates with the annual Tourism Appreciation Week "hotelier of the year'' dinner.

The black tie party will be held on Saturday night at the Southampton Princess.

Earlier there will be a forum for the winners of the Bermuda International Business Association student essay competition.

David Allen CONFERENCE CON