A political row has broken out over the decision to close the airport's Visitor's Service Bureau.

The information booth shut down for good on January 1 to make way for building work in the baggage hall as part of the airport's $20 million regeneration scheme.

The bureau, run by the Chamber of Commerce, gave advice to passengers on booking into hotels.

But Tourism Minister David Dodwell has rejected Opposition calls for talks with the Chamber to keep the desk open.

He said an average of just one passenger a day had no pre-arranged accommodation.

But Mr. Dodwell said the need for the desk would be "under constant review''.

And he promised there would still be a service for arriving passengers -- with airline staff now providing information on hotels.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen and Shadow Transport Minister Dennis Lister attacked Government for the desk's closure in a joint statement last week.

The statement said: "We find it reprehensible that neither UBP Tourism Minister David Dodwell nor Transport Minister Wayne Furbert were able to prevent this loss of service to our vital tourist visitors.

"The Progressive Labour Party calls on the UBP Government to review its position on this matter and reopen discussions with the Chamber of Commerce with a view to re-establishing this important facility in a part of the airport that is viable for our visitors and the Visitor's Service Bureau.'' But airport bosses said a new unmanned visitor information desk would be built in the arrivals hall outside the customs area.

And Mr. Dodwell said new brochure stalls would be set up around the airport for arriving passengers.

He added that tourism reps in the arrivals area would also hand out leaflets to passengers as they came through customs.

Mr. Dodwell said: "The service is going to continue to be provided.

"The original objective of the Visitor's Service Bureau was booking accommodation for visitors. But the number arriving on the Island without somewhere to stay now averages just one a day and the service for those people is now being taken up by the airlines.

"Tourism ambassadors will be giving out literature and there will be stands set up for the brochures to be dispensed.

"We will look at where most people pick up that literature and we will continue to explore the idea of a bureau.

"There will also be a new desk outside the customs area although it is not anticipated that it will be manned.

"I don't think it is necessary to reopen discussions with the Chamber of Commerce but the matter will be under constant review should a gap appear in the future.'' The airport has already employed two full-time transport advisers to direct passengers to taxis and answer their queries in the arrivals hall.

Executives in the Department of Airport Operations, who already have a brochure stand in the baggage hall, will now place leaflets in the immigration and customs areas.

TOURISM TOU