July 1, 2011Dear Sir,Hard on the heels of the interviews with Messrs Crellin and Mastalir I am compelled to comment. With few exceptions, their comments on the state of the tourism industry in Bermuda, the issues that obtain inside the machinery of the Department of Tourism and the things we should be doing to turn tourism around are virtually identical to the things said, tried and suggested by Dr Brown.I am glad that they said them. I am glad that you published them. I am glad that your Editorial of June 30 acknowledged their importance and validity. What is missing from the coverage (not just yours) is the admission that we have heard most of this before and from whom. Perhaps it is too soon for such honesty. Therefore, permit me to observe that the truth of the matter is that at every turn Dr. Brown was met by petty but vocal resistance to every “game changer” he tried to pursue. If we as a people had supported his efforts imagine where we would be as a destination.However, sir, don't take my word for it. Remember, imitation is the highest form of flattery. Our long stated complaint that the Caribbean copies all of our good stuff still holds true. The difference is they now know a good thing even when we're too stupid to see it.Jamaica is in negotiations for direct flights from China. Barbados is about to receive their first tourism delegation from China. The Bahamas is on to a new “game changer” in the BahaMar project, funded by Chinese investment. The maturity of their media and their people is evident in the fact that no voices of criticism are raised against the obvious wisdom of courting the world's most dominant economy to their advantage.Regrettably, we could never get beyond how much the ticket cost for our Premier to get to Beijing.How very sad. Now that he has gone and your rhetoric dimmed. Some sanity will prevail and you and others can think global and not parochial.I live in hope, sir.A S SIMONSPaget