Tourism is planning a big welcome for German visitors who spill off the inaugural Condor Airlines' flight.

Local diginitaries and entertainers are expected to turn out to greet the flight slated for May 2.

In addition to the troop of German reporters who have been soaking up the Island's atmosphere over the past week, two more groups are expected to arrive on Bermuda's first direct flight from Frankfurt in six weeks time.

Over the weekend, tourism officials took the journalists to lunch at top restaurants, sent them on cruises and let them loose on Bermuda's best golf and tennis courts.

But Tourism Director Mr. Gary Phillips warned Bermudians not to get too excited about the anticipated German tide of tourists.

"The numbers will still be relatively small for the first couple of years,'' he said.

The flight, bringing with it a maximum of 270 passengers -- a percentage of which are likely to be Bermudian businessmen, will run just once a week compared with the American Airlines twice-daily flight.

As for providing brochures and airport signs in German to put the foreign-tongued visitors at ease, Mr. Phillips claimed the language barrier had not so far posed a problem.

Of the 3,000 Germans that visited the Island last year, not one broached the issue in airport questionnaires.

Most, he said, spoke English and brought along brochures in their native tongue from travel agencies at home.

"There are no long-term special preparations,'' he admitted.

Nevertheless, the department would be keeping a close eye on the situation.

Tourism's public relations manager Mr. Charles Webb, who co-ordinated the reporters' visit, also advised Bermudians to scale down their expectations.

"Bermudians are expecting this great body of Germans but it is just one flight a week,'' he said. During the group's stay, local hotels and restaurants were scrambling to offer their services, he said.

"Bermudians have been very anxious to do what they can to make a good impression,'' said Mr. Webbe.

But he claimed the visitors would rather Bermudians did not bend over backwards to make them feel at home.

"Bermudians don't need to get too excited and concerned about them,'' he said. "They just want to come and visit the Island. They do not expect us to emulate them.'' But as far as he could tell, the nine reporters appeared to have enjoyed the trip.

"Their body language was very positive,'' he claimed.