Legislators approved Wednesday a bill giving customs relief to Island restaurants which refurbish their premises.

The Restaurants (Temporary Customs Duty Relief) Bill 2002 had been pushed for by the Island's restaurateurs who argued that it would level the playing field with hotel restaurants which already benefit from similar concessions.

Although the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) supported the bill, they argued that real relief for the restaurants would come if Government properly addressed the downturn in tourism and made it easier for the industry players to do business by removing unnecessary red tape and taxes.

The UBP also argued that the high cost of operating a business needed to be addressed. "It's a bit like buying somebody a brand new car when they need help with paying for gas and maintenance," said UBP Leader Grant Gibbons.

Tourism Minister David Allen responded by saying that efforts to revive the industry are showing some results and that the Finance Minister was taking an "incremental approach and would not rush to give the shop away".