Tourism continued to be the major industry and source of revenue.

Responsibility for the promotion of tourism, under the Minister of Tourism, rests with the Department of Tourism, which has its head office in Bermuda and branch offices in London, New York, Boston and Toronto.

The Bermuda Trade Development Board was responsible for these matters until the new constitution was adopted in June 1968.

The Minister of Tourism has the final decision on matters of policy, but consults an advisory board which in turn is subdivided into various committees dealing with advertising and public relations, special events, overseas communications etc.

The Department is headed by the Director, who supervises the local staff of 47, almost half of whom are specialists-photographers, writers, editors and lab technicians with the publicity wing of the department, the Bermuda News Bureau. 1971 saw the introduction of a new marketing division which works closely with the overseas offices sales staff in pinpointing Bermuda's market areas on a seasonal basis. Overseas staff of the Department totals 20.

Another side of the Department's local operation is the operation and maintenance of Fort St Catherine, Gates Fort, the Featherbed Alley Print Shop, Alexandra Battery and Fort Scaur, as attractive and interesting places to visit.

As a result of the dramatic increase in cruise passengers, Government adopted a policy of accommodating a maximum of three ships in Bermuda with overlap facilities at one time, with approximately 2,500 passengers being provided with shore facilities.

Bermuda is a small island, and its main source of income is from regular visitors who stay in hotels, etc. In order to protect the 100-year-plus industry, Government has agreed that future development must be phased and controlled to ensure an orderly expansion and to preserve those qualities which have attracted so many visitors on first and repeat visits.

In 1973 there were an estimated 8,992 beds in recognised accommodation.

A Hotel (Licensing and Control) Act was passed in 1969. This required all accommodation taking six or more paying guests to be licensed. Standards relating to fire prevention, health, construction and amenities must be met and maintained.

The origin of visitors remained more or less the same. 86.97 per cent of these arriving were from the U.S., 7.93 per cent from Canada, 2.03 per cent from the U.K., and the remainder from other countries.

The length of stay of the average visitor during 1973 was 5·3 nights, compared with 5.4 nights in 1972. The degree of satisfaction of visitors, based on the survey of departing visitors at the airport, remained extremely high.

The reasons given by visitors why they like Bermuda have been considered for many years. They are: the friendliness and hospitality of Bermudians; Bermuda is quiet and clean, restful and peaceful; Bermuda's great scenic beauty.

The Department's budget for 1973 was B$4,335,332, an increase over 1972. This was to compensate for normal increases in advertising rates, salaries, etc. The net cost of attracting each visitor was B$5.50.

Ninety-nine per cent of Bermuda's regular visitors arrive by air. This has been consistent for a number of years, for travel by ship now is primarily on "floating hotels".

The main gateways in the U.S.A. are: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Newark, New York and Philadelphia. British Airways, Eastern Air Lines, Delta Airlines and Pan American World Airways operate the U.S.A.-Bermuda services.

British Airways has operated a frequent service between London and Bermuda for a number of years. However, some of the flights terminate in the Caribbean. Air Canada has operated frequent services from Toronto and Montreal for a number of years, and recently inugurated a weekly flight from Halifax. Most of these terminate in the Caribbean.

Bermuda has two ports, Hamilton, the present capital, centrally situated on a deep-water landlocked harbour and including also the former Royal Navy dockyard and basin, situated at the western end of the island in Sandys Parish and St George, the former capital, also situated on a deep-water landlocked harbour at the east end of the islands and including an oil dock at Murray's Anchorage on the north shore of St George's Parish.

The port of Hamilton, in a land-locked harbour, has 1,650 feet of berthing space and 26 feet of water (Mean High Water Ordinary Spring Tide) (MHWOST) over most of this length. There are some 42,500 square feet of transit shed floor space. At the eastern end of the port installations there is an area used as a container port of some 2 acres. There is a good protected anchorage area for all vessels up to 34 feet draught in the Great Sound.

St George's has 1,777 feet of berthing space, 30 feet of water (MHWOST) and 22,000 square feet of transit shed floor space. On the north of St George's island is an oil dock operated by Esso Standard Oil, SA, which has a depth of 33 feet of water alongside.

The freeport at Ireland Island has two deep water basins, each with a minimum depth of 30 feet. The main wharf is 1,600 feet in length and has a 40-ton gantry crane. The Shell Company of Bermuda, Ltd., operates the former Royal Navy fueling depot and commercial vessels may bunker there.

A total of 5,309,341 gross tons of shipping (777 calls) were entered and cleared in Bermuda during 1973.

There are two lighthouses in Bermuda: Gibb's Hill Light is 362 feet above sea level in the middle of the islands and St David's Light is 208 feet above sea level at the eastern end of the islands.

Bermuda Harbour Radio operates in both UHF and VHF wave bands. It controls shipping in the channels and co-ordinates small craft rescue operations in local waters.

Additional container facilities were completed early in 1974 and provide an additional 700 feet of berthing space. This has doubled the previous area for container operations.

The only airfield is at the United States Naval Air Station, which was originally constructed during the last war solely for military purposes. In 1948 this base, known as Kindley Field, was opened to civil aircraft in accordance with the provisions of a treaty agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The base itself is leased to the United States Government for 99 years. Civil aircraft are handled in a sub-leased area at the western end of the airfield which has been extended to accommodate "Jumbo Jets". Both military and civil aircraft use the same runways and technical facilities of air traffic control, communications, weather and navigation aids. The airlines serving Bermuda are British Airways, Pan American, Eastern, Delta Airlines and Air Canada.

There are 132 miles of central and local Government roads, most of which are surfaced; they include 3.55 miles reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. There are also many surfaced ‘estate roads' and unsurfaced private roads.

Prior to 1946 there was little broadcasting in Bermuda and local listeners relied principally on broadcasts from North America and England. In 1943 the Bermuda Broadcasting Company was formed and in 1946 started commercial broadcasting with the call-sign ZBM on 1,240 kc/s with a power output of 250 watts. In 1953 a second station ZBM-2 was opened and in 1962 power on both stations was increased to 1,000 watts and an FM station, ZBM-FM was inaugurated. 1962 also saw the formation of a second commercial broadcasting company, Capital Broadcasting, using the call-sign ZFB, which operates with 1,000 watts power. ZFB inaugurated, in 1971, a second FM station. Both FM stations produce stereophonic transmissions. All stations broadcast approximately 18 hours a day.

Bermuda's first commercial television station ZBM-TV began operations in January 1958, and now operates for approximately nine hours daily. In August 1964 the Bermuda Government granted to Atlantic Broadcasting Co. Ltd a licence to establish and operate a second commercial television channel. This station, ZFB-TV, began broadcasting in August 1965 and now operates for approximately nine hours daily.

Income tax and estate duty are not levied in Bermuda but legislative approval was given in 1967 for the introduction of a property tax. This tax is similar to rates levied by local authorities in the United Kingdom.

Revenue is mainly derived from customs duties and in the fiscal year 1972-1973 (the Bermuda Government's fiscal year has recently been changed to run from 1st April to 31st March), these duties amounted to B $22,285,339 of the Government's total revenue of B$46,748,323. Miscellaneous stamp duties yielded B$2,896,328. Company taxes realised B $2,039,561, vehicle licences B$1,518,513. and omnibus services B$1,161,540. The land tax for 1972 produced B$3,666,114.

In accordance with the provisions of the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, foreign companies can be granted freedom from liability for present or future taxes computed on profits or income or capital assets, gains and appreciation. Undertakings operating in the Bermuda freeport also obtain customs tariff concessions.

A Retail Price Index established in January 1961, was computed quarterly until December 1967, but since that date it has been computed monthly.

Government expenditure for the year 1975/76 is budgeted to be B $62,443,739. At 1st April 1975 the public debt stood at B $23,290,000.

EDUCATION

The general administration of education is the responsibility of the Minister of Education, who is assisted by a Permanent Secretary, and an Advisory Board. There are some 12,000 children enrolled in 48 local schools: 18 primary, 14 secondary (of which five are private-including two denominational schools and one run by the United States Armed Forces in Bermuda), five Special Schools, and one Tertiary (The Bermuda College, comprising the departments of Academic Studies, Commerce and Hotel Technology). There are also 10 Government-run pre-school nurseries which enrol 500 four-year olds for the full school year.

Education is compulsory from five to 16 years of age, and is free during the entire period of a child's primary and secondary education. Private schools do not receive Government financial aid, and do charge fees. No fee is charged for attendance at the nursery schools.

Physical facilities at the Government schools are excellent; capital expenditure for the last five years has averaged B$1.5 million. During the current fiscal year, additions are being provided to secondary schools to equip modern science blocks to a cost of B$1.3 million.

The Government primary schools range in size from an enrolment of 120 pupils to one of 630 pupils. Secondary schools enrol from 320 to 640 students. The teacher/pupil ratio in Government schools, excluding administrative personnel, is 1 to 25 in primary schools, and 1 to 15 in secondary schools.

The five Special Schools provide training facilities for 220 children between the ages of five and 18 years. Additionally, there is a Day Training Centre and a Sheltered Workshop catering to handicapped children between the ages of five and 21 years.