The United Bermuda Party yesterday welcomed Tourism Minister Renee Webb?s statement she would consider moving to a bi-partisan tourism authority to get the struggling industry back on track.

At the public forum on tourism on Thursday, Ms Webb said tourism was an economic not a political issue, and the Island should move to a tourism authority if it is necessary.

There was broad support at the public meeting in front of a panel of experts for an independent tourism authority to take the running of the failing industry out of the hands of Government.

The Progressive Labour Party has consistently said there was no need to have a tourism authority because the public-private sector Bermuda Alliance for Tourism effectively filled that role.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said yesterday: ?I think last night?s tourism forum was a watershed with our goal of five years to create a tourism authority.

?It was strongly supported by the audience and we are glad by what appears to be the willingness of the Minister to at least consider it and put it to Cabinet.

?What she hopefully recognises is that the concern is that the current model is broken and we have to replace it.?

Ms Webb said Thursday night: ?If it takes a tourism authority, or whatever name we need, to drive it and fix it, we need to do it. The commitment needs to be there.?

Earlier, she said she would be taking all the opinions expressed at the forum to Cabinet to help frame a vision for Bermuda tourism, which she said was in ?crisis? and in need of a major overhaul.