An "under stress'' Tourism Minister David Allen is "in denial'' about the problems facing the industry, it was claimed.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the Minister did not seem to see the difficulties facing the on-Island product and did not have a plan to propel the industry out of the mire.

Mr. Dodwell said the four hours and 35 minutes of speech -- leaving him just 25 minutes to respond -- from Mr. Allen during the budget debate on tourism showed a level of insecurity.

"The Minister is in denial, he doesn't recognise the problems we have. He is under great pressure and stress -- and it shows,'' said the Southampton West MP.'' He said Mr. Allen had denied the public the opportunity to hear future plans for tourism, describing the mammoth speech by the Minister as a "travesty of democracy''.

"I am bitterly disappointed for the taxpayers of this Country. There isn't a single document that can be put on the table that would tell people what we are all about. That is why the people have been short-changed.'' Mr. Dodwell called for the Minister to bring a tourism plan to the people, adding that there was no marketing, cruise or airline strategy.

And he said it was time money was diverted from the $23 million marketing budget into improving the product delivered on the Island.

The Minister, he said, should spend more time on the Island looking at the vacation experience offered to visitors and seeing how it can be improved, instead of attending overseas tourism events.

"Keep the Minister at home and don't do all the travelling, see what is going on here. Marketing is important but if you can't deliver the product, then there is no point in marketing.'' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA