vacations with a new Italian initiative.

The Tourism Department announced earlier this week that it had contracted Italian firm P and DP Tourism Marketing Consultants to oversee public relations and trade contacts in Italy.

It continues an Italian push started in October, 1995 when $225,000 was invested in promoting Bermuda to the Italian market. Tourism's Italian budget this year is worth about $260,000.

Assistant Director of marketing Pat Phillip-Bassett said Tourism wanted to expand its marketing with tour operators.

Thirty thousand Italian language Bermuda brochures will also be produced, which will include an insert guide giving details of the Italian tour operators featuring the Island.

In 1995 Tourism launched its first major effort to attract Italians, employing Annette Calanna through British agency CIB.

Thirty thousand brochures were also produced and a public relations campaign was launched.

Ms Phillip-Bassett said: "CIB will still be involved and the new firm will be working with them.

"All the things announced in 1995 have been done and Annette Calanna did a wonderful job for us. This is a further push into the Italian market.''