The Shadow Tourism Minister has accused Government of "doing more harm than good" in its efforts to promote tourism in 2008.

Senator Michael Dunkley hit out at claims that the global economic downturn is to blame for falling tourist numbers. He said statistics showed visitors were down last summer, and that Government should have focused more on the north-eastern "core US markets".

The Opposition Senator went further last night, calling on Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown to step down. "The Minister has been in the post since 2004 and has failed to make any appreciable improvement," he said.

Sen. Dunkley made the remarks in a statement on the Tourism Minister's year-end report.

"The Government would like the people of Bermuda to think our tourism industry's poor performance in 2008 was the result of the 'economic climate' in the United States that Bermuda was a victim of forces beyond its control," said Sen. Dunkley.

"This is misleading and counterproductive. Anyone forming an opinion on Bermuda tourism in 2008 should first know that the huge decline in US visitors to our shores was already locked in before the Wall Street meltdown in mid-September down more than 12 percent overall by the end of August.

"Anyone concerned about the situation should consider that the Government, despite its role as the promoter-in-chief for Bermuda Tourism, did more harm than good in 2008.

"There was the nonsensical lack of dedicated cruise ships on Front Street and in St. George. As a result, cruise arrivals fell an astonishing 19 percent for the year, prompting lay-offs and business closures.

"There was the failure in the lead-up to the summer to put together a battle plan to boost business, despite indications of a significant drop in arrivals. There was the failure to respond to our calls for emergency tactical spending in core US markets to save the season US visitors to Bermuda fell nearly 10 percent for the year, more if you strip away the residential and business visitors.

"There was the paralysing mid-summer reorganisation of the North American sales office when Bermuda's sales force should have been totally focused on driving up business.

"There was the ongoing lack of marketing coordination between Bermuda Tourism and hotels to intensify Bermuda's market profile."

Sen. Dunkley added: "Beyond the impact of these serious deficiencies and mistakes, the Government continued taking enormous care to spin an ever-positive, unrealistic picture of the tourism industry.

"We remain deeply concerned about this never-ending focus on spin because it impedes the broad public understanding Bermuda needs to make the decisions for a better tourism product.

"The cold reality of 2008 is that it was one of the worst performing years since the start of mass tourism in the 1960s - a year the Premier launched with the following hype: 'The Bermuda tourism product is back. The proof is undeniable. Hotel occupancy is up, cruise arrivals are up and air arrivals are up.

"'Tourists are spending more when they come to Bermuda, we have more successful events than ever before like the Music Festival, and the world's best hotel operators are lining up to do business on our soil. Bermuda tourism is back and the world knows it'."

Sen. Dunkley said: "We have already called on the Premier to find a new Tourism Minister. The Minister has been in the post since 2004 and has failed to make any appreciable improvement. The performance of the industry needs to get better.

"We nevertheless want to take this opportunity to commend the Minister for finally seeing the light on some basic marketing principles that will help Bermuda attract air visitors.

"We spent most of last year imploring him to 'fish where the fish are', to bring more focus on proven markets in the US north-east that once served Bermuda so well. So we are encouraged by his year-end statement that he would 'concentrate our marketing and sales efforts' on these markets in 2009.

"We were also encouraged that he is following our advice on restoring the working relationship between Government and hotels. This relationship, if allowed to flourish, can boost the impact of Bermuda's presence in core markets.

"Finally, we reiterate our call for the creation of a Tourism Authority. The continuing stagnation of the industry speaks more loudly than ever of the need to inject professional leadership, energy, vision and accountability to the business of Bermuda tourism.

"The record of the past ten years shouts of the need for better leadership in this vitally important industry the second leg to Bermuda's economy."

Sen. Dunkley told The Royal Gazette: "The Premier deals with every Cabinet portfolio and holding the portfolio of Tourism and Transport is an added responsibility. While we appreciate the Premier has a lot of enthusiasm and zeal, during these times we think it is important for him to concentrate on being Premier.

"Why not allow another Minister or backbencher to step into the Tourism and Transport portfolio? Government has people waiting in the wings. Why not give them the opportunity and then we as Bermudians will be better served."