Visitor numbers from the UK to Corfu<.> have almost doubled in the last five years, and further increase are expected in 2002, reports the Association of Corfu Travel Agents.

`Despite the tragic events of September 11th, we are looking at another bumper season next year`, said Association President, George Doukas. `Everyone who has ever visited the island is aware that it is a very safe destination`. In 1996, 250.000 Brits passed their holidays in Corfu, while this year the island hosted 490.000 Uk visitros.

Furthermore, the inaugural Durrell School of Corfu, will take place on the island from 26 May to 7 June 2002. This would be an ideal opportunity of top names in the field of literature, journalists, and science to visit the island. The school, styled on a land-based Swan Hellenic cruise, brings a completely new high quality tourism product to Corfu, offering young and old the chance to experience Corfu through the eyes of Lawrence Durrell (novelist, poet and travel writer) and his brother Gerald (zoologist and broadcaster) who both lived in Corfu from 1935-1939. The school will host lectures and seminars by an international faculty of scholars and experts on literature, ecology, the arts and sciences and also offers expert-led excursions to locations connected with the Durrells and their life on Corfu.

Finally, the Corfu Trail, Corfu`s long-distance footpath, meets all the expectations of the first hikers from the UK. `We are very much enjoyed the Trail and thank you for enabling us to see parts of Corfu most visitors don`t get to`, said one of the first groups who walked the Trail last spring. The Trail is being marketed in the UK by hiking specialist tour operator Walks Worldwide.