Bermuda taxpayers spent more than $330,000 as the Island hosted the African Diaspora Heritage Trail conference last summer.

A further $49,000 was paid bringing Nelson Mandela's daughter Maki Mandela to the Island for a schools environment project, according to figures released by Junior Tourism Minister Marc Bean.

And in the past two years, the Department of Tourism has directed more than $80,000 to its Youth Minister competition.

Sen. Bean provided a detailed list of events sponsored by Tourism in 2007/08 and 2008/09 in response to Parliamentary Questions from Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley.

He revealed the week-long ADHT conference, which took place at Fairmont Southampton at the end of last July, cost $331,234.

The event was attended by representatives from 18 countries and featured a succession of speeches about how African Diaspora can be researched and preserved to create destinations which tell the story of African history.

The ADHT was the brainchild of Bermuda's former Minister of Tourism David Allen, with leaders describing Bermuda as a fitting place to host it.

Dr. Mandela came to the Island for five days last March to launch a new water catchment scheme developed by members of Youth News which aims to tackle water shortage problems in parts of the world.

The Department of Tourism says Dr. Mandela's visit was spent to increase visitation to Bermuda.

The Youth Tourism Minister competition gives schoolchildren the chance to travel to the Caribbean, speak at engagements and shadow Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.

Last year, $35,722 was spent on the project, with a further $45,785 in 2007/08, with the aim of instilling pride in tourism.

Other spending aimed at increasing visitor arrivals included:

• Nightlife Entertainment: $431,000 in 2007/08; $408,837 in 2008/09;

• Moonlight Movies: $180,309 in 2007/08; $161,434 in 2008/09;

• Escape to Bermuda Triathlon: $361,500 in 2007/08; $350,000 in 2008/09;

• Bermuda Hogges: $75,000 in 2007/08; $15,000 in 2008/09;

• Endurance World Open Squash: $500,000 in 2007/08.

Another event, St. George's Ducking, cost $60,000 in 2007/08 and $60,000 in 2008/09. According to the Department of Tourism list, the purpose of that event was "value added" rather than an attempt to increase visitation.