Bermuda continues to satisfy the vast majority of its visitors, but airport exit surveys conducted this summer indicate serious flaws in the tourism product.

The Island scored well in terms of overall atmosphere, physical beauty and friendly people. It also performed well enough to cause 73 percent of visitors to think they were very likely to return.

But beneath those results, visitors expressed little enthusiasm for Bermuda's nightlife and doubts about getting value for money. They also cited increasingly congested roads and a diminshing sense of security.

The survey, which was released yesterday by the Tourism Department, was based on airport interviews during June, July and August with 1,186 departing visitors.

It showed that the demographic make-up of summer visitors was slightly less impressive than the more recession-proof people who visited Bermuda during the summer of 1993.

The summer saw fewer visitors staying longer (six days or more) and more staying for the minimum of one to three days.

"In fact, the length of stay was the shortest in summer 1994 that it has been in the past six years,'' the 22-page report said.

Visitor ratings of their trip to Bermuda showed the Island still a satisfying destination.

Nearly three quarters of visitors surveyed considered it to be "one of the best possible places for a vacation.'' with the remainder agreeing that it was "a very good place for a vacation.'' Bermuda's beaches got the highest across-the-board praise with 96 percent agreeing strongly the Island had beautiful beaches.

Bermuda was also seen as a place that "makes you feel welcome'', a place they would recommend to a friend, a place that was easy to get to, unspoiled and quiet.

Although the survey results are too imprecise to draw conclusions, a comparison with 1993 results shows specific attributes of Bermuda scoring less well.

Approval ratings were down for "great sightseeing'' (to 67 percent), value for money (64 percent), uncongested roads (24 percent), good shopping (45 percent), reliable bus service (60 percent), excellent taxi service (84 percent) and an unspoiled environment (88 percent).

The Tourism report noted that "significantly fewer visitors praised many of the specific elements of the Island.'' Moreover, it observed that the level of unfavourable comments increased. Half of visitors voiced unfavourable comments compared to 44 percent in 1993.

Financial aspects of their trip generated the most complaints.