St. George's should consider marketing itself as "the place where Bermuda begins" if it is to make the most of its World Heritage Site status, a report on plans for a new visitor centre has recommended.

The $7.3 million centre in the old Queen's Warehouse in Penno's Wharf is scheduled to open in 2004 as the hub of plans to bring the Old Town's history to life.

A series of walking tours guided by distinctive signs, on-street maps, and information kiosks has been suggested by consultants to maximise St. George's heritage.

The report by Main Street Design states: "The town might consider positioning itself as 'the place where Bermuda begins,' building upon the historical fact of the Sea Venture landing at Gates Bay while simultaneously identifying St. George's as the ideal point from which to initiate a heritage/history tour of the Island."

St. George's Foundation set up a visitor centre task force two years ago to look at ways of establishing the centre as part of an overall plan to encourage heritage tourism in the town.

The report suggests establishing well marked self-guided walking trails on themes such as Bermuda history and heritage, architecture and design, black history, places and personalities, maritime history and heritage, horticulture and gardens, churches, chapels and graveyards, and Bermuda's links to America.

The Department of Tourism should help develop the heritage programme by targeted advertising, the report states.

And workers across the community including taxi drivers, tour guides, concierges and events organisers, should be aware of the programme.

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It recommends "orientation hubs" be set up at King's Square near the visitors' service bureau and at Penno's Wharf east of the cruise ship terminal, in traditional Bermudian signage to give detailed information to tourists.

The two storey visitor centre should be the "jewel in the crown" of the heritage programme with a plaza and forecourt with shade canopies, water features, plantings and market carts selling food.

"Like the town as a whole, the visitor centre should be a blend of old and new. The centre also must support, and not compete with, local cultural institutions and organisations, and merchants and restaurateurs," the report says.

The lobby should provide information for visitors to plan trips and could include "greeters" who will welcome tourists.

A kinetic, sculptural installation could be fitted in the hoistway between the two floors, and the upper floor, which will have a theatre, should have a permanent exhibition.

The centre will also have teaching rooms, a library, and a historically themed book and gift shop.

The other consultants who worked on the report were Ed Bronikowski, who advised on the redesign of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, OBM International, the Institute of Learning and Innovation, and Thomas J. Martin, which provided a business plan.