This year's heritage month in May will be dedicated to eco-tourism and the theme for the Bermuda Day parade will be tourism throughout the ages.

Community Affairs and Sports Minister Randy Horton said the tourism theme had been chosen because the United Nations has designated 2002 as the year of eco-tourism.

"All of us must play our part in protecting this important lifeline of our economy while also celebrating and enjoying it," he said.

He urged groups wanting to enter floats to join a series of workshops which are being arranged again this year with students from Cal Poly Pomona University, who build floats for the Rose Bowl Parade.

The workshops will be held in Bermuda College on Saturday 27 April from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 28 April from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m..

The parade this year will end at the northern field of the Bermuda National Sports Centre, not Bernard Park, the venue last year.