A Tourism Authority would be challenged with rebalancing air and cruise arrivals to a more appropriate 70/30 ratio under a United Bermuda Party Government.

The Tourism Authority would be made up of hospitality professionals and directed by a board chosen from the hospitality, financial, union and government sector.

"Within six months of forming the government, the United Bermuda Party will create, fund and empower the Tourism Authority to manage product development, marketing and air-service and cruise strategy" it stated in its manifesto unveiled yesterday.

The Tourism Authority will be charged with reducing the number of cruise ship visitors and increasing the number of air arrivals, as of September cruise visitors made up 55 percent of tourists who had been to the Island in 2007.

The Tourism Authority will also:

• Establish a fully integrated sales and marketing programme that exploits technology to reach clients and manages those relationships on a one-to-one basis.

• Restore regular cruise ship visits to Hamilton, and assist in redesigning the Hamilton waterfront.

• Create a plan to optimise Bermuda's greatest underutilised asset, the water around us.

• Create new cultural and historical attractions in St. George's and Dockyard.

• The planned and sustainable development of former Base land properties to include visitor attractions.

• A commitment to redeveloping "brownfield" properties, such as Club Med and Morgan's Point, for tourism first, before using up our remaining open spaces.