Tourism Minister Patrice Minors is to lead a Bermuda delegation on a visit to Atlanta, Georgia this week.The trip is part of an effort to explore common interests with Buckhead, an affluent community located in the north of Atlanta.Buckhead was recently declared a “sister community” to Hamilton six members of the non-profit Buckhead Coalition visited Bermuda in May.Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling, who will be a member of the delegation, described the trip as a follow-up to that earlier visit.“I hosted the group while they were here,” Mr Gosling said. “It’s really a great opportunity to follow up with the coalition staff, especially the former Atlanta Mayor, Coalition President Sam Massell.”Government yesterday said the trip was organised by the Ministry of Business Development and Tourism in an effort to “generate economic development and tourism among the citizens of both destinations”.Ms Minors said, “We are excited about the opportunity to meet with influential business leaders from the Buckhead area, which is easily one of the most desirable and prestigious regions in the entire US.“We were very happy to show off our destination to the Buckhead Coalition representatives during their visit to the Island in May and we’re hopeful that our meetings with them will further solidify this new alliance, which we hope will encourage travel between the two destinations and ultimately stimulate both economies.”The group will meet with area business leaders tomorrow morning at the offices of The Buckhead Coalition before touring the area and visiting additional business establishments during the day. There will also be a press conference with local media and a reception and dinner hosted by the Buckhead Coalition.Former Atlanta Mayor and Buckhead Coalition president Sam Massell said the visit by the Bermuda contingent is a highly-anticipated one.“We see tremendous economic value to our developing relationship with Bermuda,” he said. “Among other similarities, both Buckhead and Bermuda are not only highly desirable tourist destinations but also respected centres for business as well. We were very impressed by our recent visit to Bermuda and now look forward to showing this prestigious delegation why we feel Buckhead and Bermuda are a great fit.”Ms Minors will be interviewed on two of CBS Radio’s local affiliate stations on Thursday, Dave-FM and WVEE-FM. Later that morning she will make an appearance on WXIA-TV’s (NBC) Atlanta & Company.She is also scheduled to meet with editors from The Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper and regional magazines The Atlantan and Points North before returning home on Friday.The Bermuda delegation also includes Chamber of Commerce president Stephen Todd; acting permanent secretary for Business Development and Tourism Michelle Khaldun; Tourism director William Griffith; assistant director of Tourism Jasmin Smith and legislative assistant for the Business Development and Tourism Ministry, Travis Gilbert.