Tributes poured in last night for the late Minister of Tourism David Allen, who passed away yesterday at the age of 59.

Friends and colleagues said they were numb after receiving the news of his death yesterday afternoon.

Director of the Tourism department Judith Hall-Bean, who worked closely with Minister Allen and visited him regularly during his last days, said workers in the department were shocked and saddened at the loss.

"The staff are very upset and moved by his passing," she said.

"You are never prepared for events like this, but the entire department is grieving the Minister's death and we will certainly miss him."

Mrs. Hall-Bean said she last saw him yesterday only hours before he died, but the rest of his staff had not seen him since about two weeks' ago.

She added: "The Minister was a very professional, caring person who was very passionate about tourism. As we did our work, every day we could not help but catch some of that passion - his passion for tourism spread through us. He had the vision and it was our job to carry that vision out. We will definitely miss him. We will continue with his passion for tourism."

Premier Jennifer Smith, who is off the Island at the moment, released a statement to the Bermuda public yesterday via a press briefing at Cabinet, when she said Minister Allen had not only been a colleague, but a close friend to her for many years.

Her statement said: "He was a great stalwart of the Progressive Labour Party and I know that the entire Government, PLP and people of Bermuda will agree that his work ethic, commitment and loyalty to this country was uncompromising.

"I consider it an honour to have served with him in Cabinet and to have called him my friend."

Leader of the Opposition United Bermuda Party Dr. Grant Gibbons said the group sent its sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Mr. Allen.

"David Allen will be remembered, first and foremost, for his passion for Bermuda," said Dr. Gibbons.

"It is no surprise that he chose to spend his remaining days on the Island he so dearly loved.

"He was one of Bermuda's biggest boosters, a man who worked tirelessly to encourage people from around the world to visit the wonderful Island he called home.

"His passing is Bermuda's loss. We can only hope that his commitment and personal example will inspire others to promote Bermuda as he did - quite simply, as the best place on earth."

Acting Governor Tim Gurney said last night that he and his wife Denise were saddened by the news.

"David's enthusiasm for life and his love of Bermuda have always been hugely endearing qualities," Mr. Gurney said."He worked tirelessly for the Island's tourist industry and if one man could make a difference by sheer effort and enthusiasm, David was that man.

"We will certainly miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and his friends."

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said he considered it an honour to have known Mr. Allen.

And he said he will be particularly remembered for his vigour and enthusiasm in trying to make Bermuda a more progressive country.

"I salute his family and close friends. I know they have lost a giant, and so has Bermuda," said Dr. Brown.

Government Senator and Junior Minister Michael Scott said: "I, like all of my colleagues, am numbed by the fact that Minister Allen is no longer with us.

"Pray for his family and colleagues as we adjust to the news of his passing."

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said he and his wife, who also knew Mr. Allen, were devastated by his death. He offered his condolences to his family and to the PLP.

"You could not have asked for anybody who was more enthusiastic or energetic in his position, and that will be missed," he said.

"The success of tourism in Bermuda was his dream and it is a shame that his life has been cut so short that he never had the chance to see that happen.

"We didn't always agree on everything and the shame of it was the focus was always on what we disagreed - we agreed on many things and that wasn't always seen by the public.

"I had a tremendous respect for him, I had known him from the hospitality industry for 25 years."

Mr. Dodwell, owner of the Reefs hotel, said he was one of the first advertisers in Bermuda Dateline magazine, that Mr. Allen published for the travel industry until he became Tourism Minister.

"I will miss him on the street, I will miss him in the hotel and I will miss him in Parliament."

Chairman of the Bermuda Hotel Association and President of Bermuda Resort Hotels Billy Griffith agreed last night that it was Mr. Allen's enthusiasm and love for tourism that would always be remembered.

"I think it's truly a sad day for Bermuda and the tourism industry because the Minister devoted his entire life to serving his country right up to the end," said Mr. Griffith.

"I think what was unique about the Minister was the passion, drive and tenacity that he had in his job, and the air of invincibility he had in carrying it out. I think Minister Allen was a very honest and devoted person to tourism. On a personal level, I would say that I worked with him for four years and I quite admired his dedication, and I enjoyed his humour."

And a statement from the Bermuda Hotel Association said all of its members were saddened to hear the news that Mr. Allen had died, when it was so early in his life and he still had so much he wished to accomplish in his mission to revive tourism.

It said: "There are few people that manage to so completely envelop themselves in their work and their vision for a better tomorrow.

"The Association would like to acknowledge the Minister's great contribution to our industry through the many creative and comprehensive ideas and programmes, which he has championed over the last four years. He has been a true friend to us all and has put his unconditional support behind our needs each and every day."

Philip Troake, district manager of British Airways in Bermuda, said he had known Mr. Allen for many years, and had considered him a friend. He said: "When he was a travel writer, he did quite a lot of work that involved British Airways. He involved us in his travel pieces and we got to know him quite well.He availed himself on various press trips aligned with that and we considered him a friend long before he was in Government. We are very saddened by the news. It came as a shock when we heard he was ill, but to hear the news today is an even bigger shock."

Mr. Allen's first director of tourism, Gary Phillips, last night said he wanted to join the rest of Bermuda in celebrating Mr. Allen's life.

He said he first met Mr. Allen in 1970 on a seven-day cruise from Europe to Bermuda and they became friends.

But he said their paths were set to cross again when the PLP became Government in November 1998 and Mr. Allen was made tourism Minister. Mr. Phillips had been director of tourism since 1986, and retired from the position in April of 2000.

He said: "Mr. Allen was one who loved everything to do with tourism. He had an extraordinary vision for what he wanted to achieve and what he knew was right for Bermuda.

"I was glad to have been a part of the team at that time to give him the technical support that we, as civil servants, are required to do. He made it easy because there was no ambiguity about the direction he wanted to go. He was forthright, direct and very positive and Bermuda certainly wants to celebrate that at this time."