value issues in leading island resort destinations, including Bermuda, in the 1990s.

Close to 90 tourism officials, consultants, and educators representing destinations such as Puerto Rico, Curacao, Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands as well as major North American travel markets will converge at the Bermuda College's Stonington Campus from May 17 to 20.

The forum, which will be mainly sponsored by the college's newly-formed Centre for Tourism Research and Innovation, will address issues of concern for island resorts in order to: identify problems and opportunities; evaluate alternatives; formulate recommendations; and implement action strategies.

And while this particular meeting will not concentrate solely on Bermuda's tourism problems, college spokeswoman Mrs. Jan Doidge said a contingent of 26 local participants will follow up on recommendations which may benefit the Island.

"This is the first forum of its kind,'' she said. "Hopefully, it will become an annual thing.'' Those attending will research price-value relationships, putting particular emphasis on "upscale'' North American destinations and luxury island resorts.

Overseas participants will stay at hotel properties with historic links in the luxury market where they will get the opportunity to review Bermuda's tourism situation first-hand.

The European market is expected to be the focus of next year's forum, and in 1994 the Asian Pacific markets.