Daniel's Head Village officially opened yesterday with managers of the eco-resort reporting 30 percent occupancy for next month.

Tourism Minister David Allen cut a vine to open the tented complex in Sandys, saying it offered more of a luxury experience than any other canvas vacation resort in the world.

"This is on the cutting edge of eco-tourism today,''said Mr. Allen, adding it was part of the Island's attempt to re-invent itself by offering more than sand, sea and surf.

Daniel's Head manager Richard Quinn said the resort, which has 96 tent cottages on stilts, will be 30 percent full in May, but he predicted it will get busier when word gets out.

"We are building up a lot of interest and we are building on that for the remaining months of the year,'' he said.

"It's a new resort and it will start slow, but once word gets out the bookings will start to roll. The interest we have generated has been first class here, and at our reservations office in Connecticut, US.'' He said the resort, on the site of a former Canadian Navy base, is aiming at travellers who are looking for something different, discerning vacationers, and tourists looking for cheaper rooms than are available in most of the other resorts.

Rates are $295 per night for tented cottages over the ocean with continental breakfast, $225 for water's edge rooms, and $160 for ocean view.

He said he was confident the tents can withstand the high winds which batter the Island.

They can cope with winds of up to 95 miles per hour, but if dismantled, the aluminium frames can survive much higher gusts, he said.

The resort has a bar and restaurant -- which will be open to the public on May 1 -- water sports activities, and a swimming pool.

In keeping with its environmentally-friendly theme, there will be lectures and slide shows, plus walking and cycling tours.

The resort is owned by US-based Destination Villages, and is the first of a number of similar complexes the company is developing. It is being marketed by Resorts Management of Stanford, Connecticut.

John Steinley of Resorts Management said: "We are averaging 600-750 calls a month, but now we are on full-steam, we've had a lot of interest from the press.

"Our company represents 15 resorts, and we've never seen this kind of telephone activity for any other of our resorts. It's really astounding.'' His company has begun a low key advertising campaign in the suburbs of New York and Boston, as well as in Europe.