Senate Leader David Burch has defended Government's travel expenses against criticism.

Sen. Burch insisted that conducting business face-to-face was vital for maintaining a competitive edge for Bermuda against other international finance jurisdictions.

"We travel responsibly and this will continue in the name of protecting and promoting Bermuda," said the Government Senator.

"We have a duty to continue to do so. Why? Because when we are in Washington, Cayman is right behind us. When we are in London, the BVI is next door."

Sen. Burch told the Senate that just as in international business, there was an advantage to be gained by developing relationships and meeting people face-to-face rather than talking on the telephone.

"Our competitors don't have to face this chorus of disapproval when it comes to travel. They are criticised for missing any competitive edge to be gained," he said.

"I have done a bit of travel for Government myself and it is not a holiday," said the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing.

"People want their leaders to preserve Bermuda's ability to succeed."

Recent figures have revealed that the Premier and colleagues in Government spent more than $250,000 in nine months on travel.

Overseas trips cost $265,000 between May 2009 and January 2010. The average $29,400 a month cost marked an increase of $2,800 on 2008/9 expenses, despite Government pledges to cut back in the economic downturn.

A memo to Government ministries on November 26 stated: "Travel is to be cut back to essential business travel only for the remainder of this year; and all travel must be economy class, no matter what the distance."

Answers in the House of Assembly to Parliamentary Questions by Opposition Leader Kim Swan showed a visit to the US in September to open Bermuda's Washington D.C. office and attend the Congressional Black Caucus cost $62,700.

This figure also included airfares for the second leg of the trip to London for the Labour Party Conference.

Three months later, a visit to London for the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting and to Copenhagen, for the UN Climate Change Conference, cost $115,000.

On that trip Premier Ewart Brown's hotel bills totalled $27,039 $3,862 per night.

The Parliamentary Answers led Mr. Swan to accuse Dr. Brown of being on a continual "world tour", while BDA member Michael Fahy described the costs as "nonsensical".

Dr. Brown's former Press Secretary Arnold Minors however, said the Premier "hits the ground running" on every foreign trip, in promoting Bermuda's interests.

He added Dr. Brown was wearing two hats, both as Premier and the Minister of Tourism and Transport.