Dear Friend:

The Bermuda Department of Tourism has proposed the concept of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail as a unified cross border cultural tourism initiative to educate visitors, enhance economic viability of African Diaspora countries and conserve the essence of African descent culture and history. This cross border tourism initiative will build long-term relationships between Bermuda, the Caribbean, the African nations and North and South America.

The African Diaspora Heritage Trail was launched as a self-guided tour in Bermuda in Spring 2001. The trail embraces heritage sites and activities linking 500 years of history of people of African descent. The Africa Travel Association at its 25th International Congress in Cape Town, South Africa endorsed the project as a cross border tourism initiative. During the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) of Tourism Ministers meeting in February, the CTO Secretariat endorsed the project as a worthwhile cross border initiative. The Bermuda Government has offered the country as the meeting place to foster the facilitation of the concept in other African Diaspora countries.

The theme of this conference, "Tourism unites nations through Peace, Culture and Heritage", will explore the historical significance of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail and is intended to educate and promote the rich heritage of people of African descent.

Several hundred delegates have been invited to participate in the First Annual African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference, which includes tourism officials from throughout the diaspora, the Caribbean Tourism Association, the Africa Travel Association, UNESCO, Directors of Regional Tourism Boards in the United States and Africa, African American travel agencies, African American press agencies, affiliated African American organizations and majority organizations with a diaspora-related focus.

The three-day program will include presentations by leading authorities in cultural tourism, African Studies professors from leading universities, and African History and Heritage site operators. The program includes speaker presentations on developing long-term tourism industry partnerships through the promotion and financing of a Transatlantic African Diaspora Heritage Trail. There will be workshops on how the African Diaspora Heritage Trail can be successfully incorporated into an economically viable cross border cultural tourism initiative.

Additional focus will be directed on how to best capitalize on special cultural and historic qualities in marketing events and literature, and how to better reach the target market. Finally, the delegates will explore ways to help local residents appreciate and celebrate their own cultural heritage. The program also includes visits to Bermudian African Diaspora heritage sites, cultural art exhibits and cultural dance and music presentations.

Henderson Associates and Henderson Tours join the Bermuda Department of Tourism in extending this invitation to you, and we look forward to having you attend the First Annual African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference this Spring. Your participation and your input will greatly assist in forging a strategic marketing and development partnership with Bermuda and the African Diaspora. Please follow the links here to see the program, registration and travel information. If you have additional questions, please contact me, Glenda Roberts (ext 505) or Ana Lopes (ext 506) at 1-800-327-2309 or (301) 650-5700. Both Glenda and Ana are also available to confirm your airline and hotel reservations.

Sincerely,