The requirement for new hotel developments to provide staff housing will ensure housing is provided for all hotel workers ? not just expatriates, Tourism Minister Ewart Brown promised yesterday.

"No longer will our people be made to compete against the expatriate worker on anything but a level playing field," Dr. Brown said on the floor of the House of Assembly yesterday.

"The days of same salary but housing thrown into the package are over. ...The provision of a basic benefit like housing, traditionally unavailable to our people, will send a clear message that this Government is serious about growing this industry and growing it correctly."

Dr. Brown also highlighted the death of the off-season in his ministerial statement as part of the move to inject some more "pop and sizzle" into Bermuda.

"We need more pop and sizzle. It's as simple as that," he said. "We need to liven up the place."

Consigning the days of peak- and off-season "to the graveyard" are part of that, he said.

"We now speak in terms of beach season and golf/spa/tennis/running season," Dr. Brown announced. "We are actively pursuing golf charters for the November to March period. Likewise we have increased the sponsorship to the International Race Weekend and have met with the executive of the BTFA to brainstorm on growing the important event ... We are now in the business of being in business 365 days a year. Bermuda is open. Period."

Bermuda's nightlife will also get a little pop-and-sizzle injection with the establishment of the Entertainment Development Fund and the music scholarship funded by BET which was announced earlier this year.

Discussions are ongoing for an "Island revue type show" for guests, as well for the prospect of outdoor entertainment to be staged after Harbour and Heritage Nights.

"We will change the image of Bermuda as a place only for the newlywed or the nearly dead," Dr. Brown said to an enthusiastic response from members in the House of Assembly.

Expanding on statements made in the Throne Speech, Dr. Brown said European travellers will be targeted with new gateways from Germany and Italy.

The move represents a break from Tourism's former approach of a more streamlined focus on the North American East Coast. "There is a whole world out there and there is no reason for us not to try to attract them," Dr. Brown said.

However, he added: "This approach must be a focused and well-thought out one, or we run the risk of firing scattershot as opposed to the silver bullet."

North American sales reps will be coming to the net more, he said, bypassing travel agents and getting into direct contact with consumers.

"We are responsible and we will aggressively pursue business without the bizarre approach that relies on travel agents' good graces."

Tourism and Education will work together to put tourism into Bermuda's schools, Dr. Brown said.

"Such is this Government's commitment to Bermudians in tourism that we have run ads ... inviting those who have been unsuccessful in securing employment within the industry to contact the Ministry."