Smiling faces and friendly welcomes need to make a comeback at the Airport if people are to return for a vacation, a disgruntled former resident says.

Former resident and frequent visitor Mrs. Molly Fuller has written to Tourism Minister David Dodwell expressing her disappointment with the reception at the Airport.

"The smiling faces and friendly `welcome to Bermuda' greetings of old have been replaced by dour faces demanding to see a return ticket,'' she wrote.

"The friendly porters of old are scarce and on my last three trips no luggage carts were available.

"Wending one's way towards Customs, one finds disgruntled visitors, in line, struggling with luggage with a frequent `if this is what Bermuda is like I shall not return' heard from first-time visitors,'' adds Mrs. Fuller.

She says money should be invested in the arrivals area and not departures, saying plans for duty free shopping -- recently announced by the Government -- are not needed.

"Please bring the calypso music and the welcoming smiles back to your beautiful Island. Please make us feel as if we are welcome guests, not intruders,'' she says in her letter, from Oakville, Ontario.

Although Mr. Dodwell has no control over the airport, which comes under Transport Minister Wayne Furbert, he has recently announced several ideas to make the visitor feel more welcome.

An ambassador scheme, where Bermudians greet and help tourists, is being considered and there is a concerted effort being made to make Islanders more aware of the importance of the tourist trade, through the tourist appreciation programme.

Mr. Dodwell is currently in Italy helping to push a new marketing scheme and was not available for comment yesterday.

The tourism director, Mr. Gary Phillips, said: "Generally, I would like to see Tourism as not just marketing of Bermuda overseas, but also the delivery of the product on the Island.

"The services we provide and how they are provided are all part of what goes to make Bermuda successful or unsuccessful.''