that visitors may have different needs and a different schedule.

Visitors, especially repeat visitors, holiday in a place where they are comfortable and cared for. How comfortable visitors are often equates with the convenience they experience. That causes us to question whether Bermuda is convenient enough for visitors.

Let us make it clear that we are not suggesting a very different Bermuda. But we are suggesting that Bermuda should take care to provide for visitors rather than always gearing Bermuda to suit locals. Bermuda is still something of a rather formal Grannie, who tends to please herself. Maybe those days are gone and either we make efforts to keep people happy or increasing numbers of visitors will go elsewhere.

Today's visitor can go to many resorts where visitor facilities are much more accessible and much more lively than they are in Bermuda. The world is changing and people keep very different hours than they once did. Because of that, there are plenty of resorts with activity at any hour of the day or night. In Bermuda visitors often have to "arrange'' for a TV in their room? Have any of us travelled in recent years and not found a TV in the room? Bermuda is still basically geared to a nine-to-five day, six days a week with generally early closing. That approach is very attractive to some visitors who come here to enjoy what Bermuda is but not so attractive to people who come to see what Bermuda has to offer. It also may be that the number of potential visitors who enjoy quiet islands is decreasing, certainly there are less visitors interested in sun and sand.

There are things we can do which will make little or no impact on Bermuda's quality image. But in order to get them done we need to have cooperation between various Cabinet ministries and other groups to one purpose, an improved Bermuda vacation.

Transportation to what Bermuda does offer is a major problem. The traditional visitor transportation, the moped, is now terrifying and dangerous for people who are unfamiliar with our roads. Yet we are not looking for substitutes. Too often visitors are isolated in hotels, scared of mopeds and unwilling to hire expensive taxis. That decreases their enjoyment and stops them spreading their money around.

We need inexpensive and convenient ways for visitors to move around Bermuda.

It is not difficult in such a small place. Start with hotel courtesy buses.

Bermuda needs to be open when visitors want it to be open. But, basically we should suit our shoppping to visitors who probably want to spend their days, especially good days, outdoors.

Visitors often complain that there is not enough to do in Bermuda. Certainly there is little variety. Bermuda needs to make a general summertime move back outside both to drink and to dine. We need more "island'' entertainment. We should make better use of our beautiful waterfronts for entertainment and not for car parking. The new night club at Number Six Shed is a step in the right direction.

There are any number of other small conveniences which are not too difficult but which make visitors more comfortable. Why don't we have them? Probably because we are in a rut which we need to get out of.