Shadow Minister of Tourism Kim Swan is questioning Tourism Minister Ewart Brown?s actions in what he terms the ?emasculation? of the Visitor Industry Partnership.

Sen. Swan said while he applauded Dr. Brown?s efforts to reinforce the importance of tourism by taking the message to schools throughout Bermuda, he wondered what the real purpose of that mission was when he (Dr. Brown) withdrew the majority of the funding of VIP ? which eventually led to a segment of the staff of that agency being temporarily incorporated into the Tourism Ministry.

?Apart from the Tourism Minister?s school road show, we have lost an agency with the independence to concentrate on the improvement of our people?s attitude towards tourism and visitors to our Island,? he said.

Sen. Swan said Bermuda needs a comprehensive set of programmes and services specifically dedicated to helping tourism dependent businesses achieve their objectives.

He said given the value that the Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) provided and the challenges that the Tourism Department faces, it is ?bewildering? to consider why Government dramatically reduced the funding support of a much-needed agency.

Sen. Swan commented on a recent speech Dr. Brown made in which he said ?tourism must change?.

?If that headline is indicative of the Minister?s true position on the revitalisation of Bermuda?s tourism industry, he and I are in agreement on that point.?

?However, the United Bermuda Party believes that the future of Bermuda?s tourism industry requires a co-operative partnership, one that maximises marketing potential and encourages greater product development,? he said.

Tourism was an industry that grew from the spirit of private sector entrepreneurship and became increasingly more bureaucratised as their success grew, he said. Now it ?is in need of returning to its roots?.

Sen. Swan said Bermuda needs to rebuild tourism through the creation of a tourism authority.

This body, he said, would take the politics out of tourism and would contain the expertise and the accountability to get tourism back on track.

The Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) promotes the importance of tourism to Bermudians and hands out quarterly Sunshine awards to hospitality employees who have been nominated by tourists and locals for going the extra mile.

This leads to an annual Belco-sponsored Excellence Award, considered the ?Oscars? of Bermuda.

UBP MP David Dodwell, questioned Dr. Brown in the House during the Budget this year as to whether or not Government would continue providing funding for the VIP.

But Dr. Brown declined to reveal further details about Government?s relationship with the Visitor Industry Partnership in 2005, saying the Tourism Department would meet with the VIP before publicly announcing any details.

The cash-strapped VIP first made an urgent plea for business sponsorship after losing $25,000 in funding from Government in 2002.

When asked about VIP last night at a seminar on the cruise industry, Tourism Director Cherie Whitter declined to comment on the matter and referred all questions to VIP chairperson Barbara O?Shaughnessy.

Ms O?Shaughnessy declined to comment, however.