coming season.

And Yoshi Corporation's David Durham, the operator of the MV Bermuda Longtail , told The Royal Gazette that his company had manoeuvred into a perfect position to take full advantage of the projected boon.

"Everybody's moving already,'' he noted. "Operators are just buzzing no matter what type of cruise they are doing.

"I think it will be a good season. Looking at bookings, I think it will be a good year.'' This was a good sign, stressed MV Bermuda Longtail skipper Steven (Cookie) Brown who has been with the firm over the last four years.

"This part of the tourism industry is vital and important. People just don't seem to see it as significant.

"It is one of the Island's strengths that has kept the tourism industry as a whole from going down. When hotels were suffering and cruise ships started coming in, tour boat operators did an outstanding job of servicing them.'' Mr. Durham added that it was a sign of the hard work the Department of Tourism and water tour operators had put in over the winter.

"There has been a lot of attention given to water sports by the Department of Tourism,'' he said.

Mr. Durham took over the helm of the MV Bermuda Longtail from businessman and former Government Senator Llewellyn Peniston about six years ago.

He recalled: "The boat was doing nothing then even though Llewellyn Peniston had about 80 percent of the cruise ship market share.'' With his background in music, Mr. Durham set about to evolve a cruise that no-one else was doing at that time.

"I purchased the boat with the view of having a party. We changed the boat's appearance and brought in crew with a real Bermudian flair.

"Other operators did not look at the importance of having that flair. This is what sets us apart from other operators.'' And the business has continued to adapt to meet visitor needs.

Capt. Brown said: "Every year the business has steadily increased in volume and success.'' This year the company's tours are focusing on the Island's history and eco-tourism.

The company's Harbour Sightseeing Cruise will focus on the Island's history, as will its Saturday cruise for Bermuda Collection property guests and its snorkelling trips.

"We are really trying to tuck in to the way tourism around the world is going,'' said Mr. Durham.

He pointed out: "Visitors today want to be educated, not just entertained.

There is no one who has as much knowledge about the Island's history and boating in Bermuda as Cookie.'' Capt. Brown said: "People want that knowledge and education along with the party and fun activities. These are the things that we will try and encompass.'' "From a local point also, there are a lot of people who are not aware of their history. There is a lot of local history that both visitors and locals have never been told.

"There is also a lot of world history that Bermuda is tied into. The cruises will also educate in other ways. For example, said Capt. Brown, snorkellers will be taught about the sensitive marine environment.

Plans are in the works for local school children to get involved in this as well as they needed to be informed about their Island home.

Capt. Brown said: "As fragile as international business and tourism are, the environment is even more fragile.'' Mr. Durham noted: "Eco-tourism is what is bringing in the money in other destinations. Eco-tourism is on top at the moment.

"Eco-cruising gives us another opportunity to have part of the market share.''