The editorial follows a news article published last week in the paper.

Tourism Director Gary Phillips said he did not want to comment on the editorial.

But, he added that all comparative adverts are now finished and were not stopped early.

Newspaper and radio commercials are still running, but are linked to special offers and promotions, in conjunction with hotels.

"The adverts were not pulled, they finished on schedule. There was talk of whether we should, but we stuck to our plan,'' he said.

The latest shot comes after a Massachusetts businessman with strong connections to the Island called for a media truce, which he believed could hurt Bermuda in the long run.

Peter Cook called for Tourism officials to get round the negotiating table and thrash out a Bermuda/Massachusetts peace accord, to encourage tourism in both destinations.

And the Cape Cod anger follows a similar response from the Hamptons, where a local newspaper sent reporters to both Bermuda and the US resort, to test the attraction of both places.