Restaurant owner Phil Barnett says everyone is pulling together to improve Bermuda’s nightlife.Mr Barnett, who heads Island Restaurant Group, which includes the Pickled Onion and Hog Penny, joined in on The Royal Gazette’s Follow It Live forum yesterday.Hundreds of people joined the ‘Big Tourism Debate’ forum, which took place from 10am to 6pm.Some of the participants were frequent guests to the Island and gave their two cents on what Bermuda was and was not doing right.During the debate three main areas of concern were raised: high room rates, high airline prices and the perception that Bermuda is boring.Mr Barnett said his company was doing its part to bring Bermuda’s nightlife back. He said the Hog Penny had brought singer/musician Will Black back and would soon be starting open mic nights and other “cool events” with Tony Brannon. Meanwhile Mike Conto and Dawn Ann have just started at the Picked Onion as well as locals Robert Edwards and Jamie Zuill. Local band Mohawk Radio will also be performing at Latin’s Cinco de Mayo (May 5) celebration he said.“Immigration has never been better in regards to work permits, the Musicians Union and many local entertainers are as a whole realising that desperate times call for desperate measures,” he said. “We are all working together to try and make our little scene soar again.“It is honestly the most collaborative time I can remember with venue owners, union and Government all really trying to work together.”Meanwhile Bermuda Hotel Association head John Harvey responded to repeated complaints that hotel prices were high, or too high for the level of service and hotel amenities provided.“The BHA members average daily rate as evidence in our Consolidated financial statement reveals that hotels room rates have been in decline since 2008,” he told the Follow It Live readers. “Hotels here in Bermuda and indeed in the Caribbean have had to reduce their rates in order to remain competitive.“For many years BHA members have been challenged by the Bermudian community to provide more entertainment for our hotel guests. These same guests who are regularly surveyed by the hotels have indicated to us that they are quite satisfied with their vacation offering.”The 2009 summer exit survey stated 48 percent of tourists polled were “completely satisfied” with Bermuda’s nightlife.While the industry experts weighed in on the state of the tourism, the people who actually pay to visit Bermuda’s shores also got in on the action.Fred, from the US, said: “We are repeats to the Island annually since 1990 and we have seen lots of changes, especially in crime and attitude overall. We have stayed in various places from Pompano Beach Club, Mermaid Beach Club, White Sands, Stonington, Rosedon, Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Ariel Sands, and we have enjoyed them all. We find all the hotel closings sad.“Flying in and staying two to three weeks on the Island gives you the opportunity to find the true flavour and charm of the country and its people and is one of the important factors to why we return.“The crime has increased so greatly, however, and does cause much concern regarding overall safety/security, even to us as annual visitors. Improvement of the security issue as well as revamping the waterfront in Hamilton to allow liners and more activity again would increase tourism numbers.”Dean said he has been visiting five times a year since 2000 and enjoyed it, but he added he has seen a shift in attitude towards tourists. “[A female bus driver] was very indignant when I asked to be dropped off at Grotto Bay Beach Resort,” he said of a recent trip. “But overall Bermuda people are very nice.”Al, from the UK, has been coming for three weeks every summer since the early 1980s.“The people are the best,” he said. “The Island is heaven but the airfare is the killer. I can go around the world cheaper than flying to Bermuda. Crazy!”Locals also spoke out with many concerned about the quality of the Island’s tourism product.JP, who works in the international business sector, said: “The fundamental problem with Bermuda I feel is the product. Bermuda is beautiful but it is also boring. The modern affluent tourist wants entertainment and natural beauty. Why are there no waterfront bars and restaurants on Front Street?”He also suggested Bermuda should have another look at gambling.“In reality we need to dissect the product first and then look to modernise it, market it and identify our most profitable target market,” he said. “We are a very short trip away from some of the most affluent cities in the world. Why would those people not want to visit Bermuda?”l To read the full debate go to the Follow It Live section of The Royal Gazette’s website and make sure to look out for our next Follow It Live debate in the coming weeks.