protect the overall environment -- has received positive coverage in Florida's biggest newspaper.

The Miami Herald, in a recent edition, focussed on aspects of the visitor experience that are increasingly rare in other destinations: a local population which likes its visitors, lack of hawkers selling trinkets and lack of crowding.

The article by Mr. Peter Greenberg says the secret to Bermuda's tourism industry is management of the product. The Bermuda message, he says, is that "managed growth means little growth''.

He quotes Tourism director Mr. Gary Phillips making what on the surface could be construed as a controversial statement.

"The philosophy that guides our tourism is that no matter what benefits may occur, tourism is still a pollutant,'' Mr. Phillips said. "And the countries that have been successful have been the ones that have managed and controlled this pollutant.'' "Pretty harsh words coming from someone hired to promote tourism,'' Mr. Peter Greenberg said. "But sensible words.

"And Britain's oldest colony has put the tourism world on notice that it intends to protect those assets even if that means limiting the profit margin.'' Mr. Greenberg says Bermuda vacationers will not be hounded on the beaches by souvenir hawkers.

"Instead, if your search encompasses a passion for a place where the locals actually like visitors, and where you can quickly become a part of the feeling of community, history and a measurable amount of style, then Bermuda is an excellent choice.'' Mr. Greenberg added that Bermuda did not become that way by accident, "and therein lies the moral of how tourism can work without destroying what created the tourism in the first place''.

He described the Island as a "model of British civility'', uncrowded and where the Government had limited the number of hotel beds and the number of cruise passengers.

He also noticed the Island was fighting a too-expensive image and that hoteliers had banded together to offer "greatly reduced rates'' with some properties as low as $150 for four days and three nights.

Mr. Phillips concluded his interview saying: "We look at tourism as an environmental and social enterprise with economic benefits, that's different from a lot of other places where the reality is that tourism is an economic enterprise with environmental and social fallout.'' Mr. Gary Phillips.