The Shadow Tourism Minister yesterday blasted his counterpart's plans for a tourism roadshow in Europe.

"I am very concerned with the total amount of money being spent on these roadshows,'' said David Dodwell, after Tourism Minister David Allen announced his plan to promote the Island at the World Travel Congress in Strasbourg, France next month. "I supported the roadshow in New York,'' continued Mr.

Dodwell, "But it's a question of balance -- just how many of these do you do? "I was in favour of some of them. I was doubtful of Canada and this one, to me, is going over the top.

"I estimate that the final amount that will have been spent on these road shows by the end of the year will be over a million dollars.

"Is that the right way to spend that much money?'' So far Mr. Allen's roadshow, which as of late has featured the Bermuda Regiment, Gombey Dancers, hoteliers and tourism officials, has toured London, Italy and the United States.

This week it is in Canada and Mr. Allen announced from Toronto that he would next be taking it to France in a bid to woo top US travel agents who will be there with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). "I think this one is about getting some personal publicity for the Minister,'' claimed Mr. Dodwell, who pointed out that Mr. Allen had always attended ASTA functions in the past when he was a travel writer. "It is totally inappropriate,'' he said. "My sources say they are trying to hold the cost of it down to $350,000... and that none of the hoteliers are going except for one who will already be in France.

"It is not money well spent, particularly when you do not have the support of the private sector. I am not saying don't go to the show. I have attended them myself in the past, but to me this approach is wrong.'' Mr. Dodwell argued that the money could have been better spent. "It is my strong view that, when you add it up, we should be a lot more targeted and much more directed to our customers and to travel providers,'' he added.

"The scatter shot approach that will be used at ASTA, in my view, is not money well spent. It is not going to be cost effective.'' Mr. Dodwell pointed out that the Department of Tourism's controversial radio ad campaign, which compared the Island to other destinations, had gone off the air and the only advertising that the Ministry seemed to be doing was occasional magazine and newspaper pieces. He claimed that this was because the Department was on a tight budget and the money spent on the roadshows could have been used to boost advertising.

The cash could have also been used to develop airline relationships, the Shadow Minister said. "This is a huge challenge,'' Mr. Dodwell pointed out.

"An amount like a million dollars could have been better spent on building relationships with the airlines -- perhaps by giving them marketing support or throwing some money behind certain routes.

David Dodwell