African Travel Association (ATA) for them to endorse Bermuda's African Diaspora Heritage Trail.

The trail outlines Bermuda's black historical roots. The pair visited the Association's Annual Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.

Premier Smith told the House of Assembly on Friday: "Minister Allen briefed the ATA board and the Convocation of African Ministers of Tourism on the initiative which is designed to chronicle the history of the Diaspora, beginning on the African continent and spreading out to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the American continent and Europe.

"Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that this initiative -- which is another pillar in the revitalisation of tourism -- was enthusiastically received and the Board unanimously agreed to put the proposal before the entire assembly.

"Government looks forward to hosting tourism ministers and officials from Africa and the Caribbean sometime within the next year as the next steps in the worldwide African Diaspora Heritage Trail.''