Extra buses will be on hand at the hotels and the airport in the event of a taxi strike today, Transport Minister Ewart Brown announced yesterday.

He said his Ministry had drawn up contingency plans after the call by the Bermuda Taxi Association for drivers to withdraw their services in protest at Government plans to impose GPS technology on the industry.

Officials of the Bermuda Hotel Association spent yesterday assessing the possible impact of a major shortage of taxis today and the Ministry's contingency planning was based on their assessment.

At a Press conference yesterday, Dr. Brown said it was expected that "hundreds" of visitors will be affected. But he was confident that the taxi operators opposed to GPS were in the minority.

"It is most unfortunate that some operators have decided to take this action, and I hope that most will decide to provide normal service to the public," the Minister said.

He stressed that the extra buses will be on hand to support the taxis that are working. And hotels will be allowed to use their own vehicles to make airport runs if no taxis are available.

"We are also asking the general public to stop and transport people if they see them stranded," Dr. Brown added.

"Again, it is our plan to back up those taxis that are working. So please let those taxis that are working do their job, but assist the public when required."

About 20 to 25 taxi drivers had called the Ministry to say that they will not be heeding the call to withdraw their services.

"Many of our taxi operators are supportive of our goal to improve taxi service in Bermuda for residents and visitors and I thank them for their constructive support,"Dr. Brown said.

Hotels were also working on their own contingency plans throughout yesterday.

Allan Trew, spokesman for the Southampton Princess hotel, said yesterday that there was no major panic at the property, since it was expected to be relatively quiet day in terms of guest movement.

But the hotel was prepared to hire buses and use some of its own vehicles for its guests' transportation needs if necessary.

Just 180 people were expected to arrive at the hotel today and about the same number were scheduled to leave.

A large group currently staying at the hotel will spend most of the day on the water, he said. "It's just a matter of our buses getting them down to the Waterlot so there will be no external transportation issues."

Elbow Beach hotel, with 85 percent of its 244 rooms occupied, plans to use its shuttle bus if necessary for airport transfers and will have employees stationed at the airport to receive guests.

Eighty guests at the hotel are leaving today, while 100 are expected to arrive.

"We certainly hope that they can resolve this," said spokesperson Kendaree Burgess-Fairn.

Bushara Bushara, manager of the smaller Newstead Hotel, was not panicking either. With just 20 rooms occupied and only three arrivals and four departures, any shortage in taxis was expected to be handled easily.

"If push comes to shove and we are unable to find a taxi, we've made plans for our employees to transport our guests," he said. "It just happens we don't have a big day tomorrow."

Most of the hotel's guests are corporate guests, he added, whose transportation needs were primarily to and from Hamilton, and with the ferry running their inconvenience was expected to be minimal.

Hamilton Princess hotel manager Paul Tormey said guests will be greatly inconvenienced if there is a major shortfall in taxis.

With 300 guests at the hotel at the moment, 100 coming in and 150 scheduled to leave today, the hotel had to have alternative arrangements, he said.

"Suffice it to say, if it happens it's going to be quite disruptive to our customers."

The Bermuda Taxi Association this week urged taxi drivers to withdraw their services today in protest at Government's plans to impose the GPS technology on the industry.

The Association claims the technology will add costs to an industry suffering from dwindling revenues, and that the passengers will have to absorb the extra costs, making a Bermuda vacation even more expensive.

It is not known how many drivers will take part in today's action but the Association claims to have the support of 400 of the 500 owners on the Island.

Tourism Minister David Allen told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he appreciated the concerns of the taxi drivers.

"We recognise there have been a number of challenges," he said. But he defended Government's approach, saying the matter had been discussed and compromises made.

"Change doesn't come easily to Bermuda. I can understand the concerns and appreciate the position of the taxi drivers. At the same time we have to be customer driven."

Dr. Brown said that no talks were held yesterday to stave off today's action, but he had offered to hold further talks with a mediator.

He made it clear that the GPS legislation is not negotiable.