would be easy to sell as a holiday destination in Europe because of its low crime.

"The events in Florida and Egypt and Turkey, the shootings and bombings of tourists, stopped tourism from my country immediately,'' said Mrs. Birgit Cremers-Schiemann, who writes travel sections for the German national daily and weekly newspapers.

The Tourism Ministry and Cambridge Beaches, who invited the journalists here, are hoping their articles will help boost the number of German visitors coming to Bermuda.

They also want Europeans to know Bermuda has more to offer than sunny palm-fringed beaches.

Ms Cremers-Schiemann agreed: "There are many places in the world where you can find beaches, palms and good weather. But here, you have a combination of good climate, culture, beautiful landscape, friendly people -- and you are safe from being shot. You can relax and enjoy your holiday here...I did not know there was so much history here.'' However, having no direct flight from Germany "is a problem'', she said. And also the lack of direct advertising in the country. "Many people get Bermuda confused with the Bahamas,'' she said.

It was more convenient for Germans to head for the Caribbean islands to which there were direct flights, she noted.

On the safety aspect of Bermuda, travel writer Miss Solveig Bader said: "Luxury hotels on other islands are very isolated and you are afraid of being shot if you leave them. Here, every corner is safe. The impression does not exist that there is any danger on the streets.'' She added. "The friendliness of Bermudians does not seem artificial -- it is very natural.'' Ms Bader is a travel writer for Media Team, a freelance agency which produces broadcasts for several German public radio stations.

And travel journalist Mr. Joachim Negwer, a writer for the German Sunday nation Sunday newspaper Sonntag Aktuell felt Bermuda "would certainly appeal to the sophisticated traveller.

The trio of journalists have been escorted to Dockyard and other historic sites, to visit diver Teddy Tucker and his daughter Wendy to discuss the planned underwater institute, to the House of Assembly and to see various other cultural aspects of Bermuda.

Tourism especially, is hoping an increase in European visitors will encourage one of at least two airlines it is currently in negotiations with to offer a direct flight from Germany.

Tourism Minister the Hon. CV (Jim) Woolridge was hoping for a deal before next summer. He would not reveal the two airlines talks were being conducted with.

Meanwhile, latest arrivals figures from the Continent are looking up. In October, the number of European visitors was up 59.4 percent, likely due to the World Rugby Classic event.

Some 1,387 visitors came to the Island via cruise ship or air in October. For the year to date, European visitor arrivals are up 3.4 percent with 7,762 Europeans visiting Bermuda since January.

"We are in a series of talks with two different carriers and are hopeful something will develop before next summer,'' Mr. Woolridge said. "But it depends on whether they can put together a programme that is beneficial to all. In the meantime we get an excellent service from British Airways.'' He added securing a link was difficult because of the state of the airline industry, with Air France alone had lost $1.8 billion this year.

Mr. Woolridge claimed advertising in Europe "had already been stepped up'', to the tune of $500,000.

Germany, Switzerland, and Austria were being targeted because the economic situation of residents in those countries was better than elsewhere in Europe, he said.