The producer and not taxpayers could foot the bill for the majority of this year's Bermuda Music Festival.

In the House of Assembly on Friday Minister Derrick Burgess delivered the Ministry of Tourism's Budget statement and announced several initiatives and changes.

And during his four hour speech he said: "Bermuda Music Festival 2010 will be the 15th year. The Department will restructure the sponsorship of this event with a new business model.

"[The Request for Proposal] process is in hand and the end result will lead to less Government spending and putting more responsibility on the producer, stay tuned."

The festival, which has seen the likes of Beyonce, Lionel Richie, Earth Wind & Fire and UB40 grace the Island, has come under fire in the past for costing a lot of money but bringing few tourists.

Last year the Department of Tourism spent $1.9 million for the festival which saw 383 tourists fly in.

In 2008 it cost tax payers $3 million to put on the Festival, which attracted 1,500 visitors and in 2007, the profit or loss has never been revealed, although revenues were $1.68 million and about 1,500 visitors attended. In 2006, the festival lost $1.5 million.

Yesterday Opposition spokesman for tourism Senator Michael Dunkley said: "There is some hope with this statement that the Government has finally seen the light and is admitting that the Music Festival has been an excessive waste of taxpayers dollars."

Sen. Dunkley said the Music Festival's costs under Premier Ewart Brown's time as Minister of Tourism had drastically increased, but the event had not been a success at putting "heads in beds".

"In light of the tough times that we as Bermudians face it is very concerning to total up the millions that has been squandered under the direction of Premier Ewart Brown [on the festival]," he said. "In the real world someone should be held accountable for this inexcusable waste of taxpayer dollars."

He said that without further details of the plans he could not comment further on the proposed changes.