This was sent to Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert and copied to The Royal GazetteMay 5, 2012Dear Mr Furbert,I am writing to you as a concerned citizen. In the current climate of declining tourism, I would have thought that your Department of Tourism would be trying its utmost to facilitate and promote any and all attractions that may be of interest to our visitors. Sadly this appears not to be the case.In March, I visited the tourist offices in Global House to pick up brochures for the filmmakers, jury and press who were coming to our Island for our annual Bermuda International Film Festival. I was hoping to pick up some flyers or brochures on the magnificent mural at Commissioner’s House painted by Bermudian artist Graham Foster. To my utter dismay not only was there nothing available but the staff did not seem to know much about this “must see” attraction.Most tourists are interested in learning about the history of the places they visit and there in Dockyard is this gem which depicts the 400 years of our history. There are very few places on this planet where the entire history of a country is depicted in this fashion. Graham Foster’s mural is magnificent in its scope, imagination and detail and I am convinced that, with very little expense and some creative thinking (another thing that seems to be lacking in the Department of Tourism), this extraordinary work of art would attract hundreds of visitors. Thanks to the generosity of his American backers, who financed this epic work, it did not cost Bermuda a penny. However, it is currently being ignored by our Government.Many cruise ship visitors might not want to spend the time or the money to see our wonderful Maritime Museum so they go to the beach or buy a T-shirt instead. If there was a Fast Track ticket at a discounted price that gave entry to just the Commissioner’s House and IF the Halls of History was properly promoted this would produce much needed additional revenue. I did briefly mention this concept to the lady on duty in the ticket office of the maritime museum and she said it would be too difficult to do and control. What is difficult about having the area just beyond the entrance divided by a simple fence with entrance gates left and right? The gate on the right takes you to the whole Museum complex including Commissioner’s House, the half price ticket holders go though the gate on the left, up the drive to see the mural and the displays in Commissioner’s House. Have a golf cart handy to assist the elderly. It’s not rocket science!Of course it would be helpful if the tourists were aware of this attraction in advance. So please, Mr Minister, have some brochures printed and a few large posters on display in the cruise ship terminal building. All ships should have the brochures available on board promoting not only the Halls of History but all the attractions of the Dockyard area and Bermuda in general.I guess this is all just wishful thinking; tourists cannot even get a bus or ferry schedule none have been available for the past six months. I asked for these schedules when I was at the tourism office and was informed there were none available anywhere on the Island but the schedules were available online I was told. Hurrah — yes, totally accessible to our visitors! Why doesn’t the Department of Tourism print off the online schedules for our visitors too much trouble? Too lazy? When will the Island have bus and ferry schedules available? It is mind boggling that here we are in the high season and there is no printed transport information available to our guests.In closing, may I ask when we will see some Bermuda ads on the main TV networks? I see daily advertisements for the Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia and on and on — but nothing on Bermuda. The last TV ad I saw was about four years ago that dreadful monochromatic ad, produced by Global Hue, showing some ladies drinking in a dark bar setting and asking “is that sand in your hair?”. Of course, if you are up at 4.30am in the Boston area you just might catch a Bermuda ad on NESN. Way to go!ANNA SUMMERSWarwick