Director of Tourism Judith Hall Bean is being moved to another position as part of a department shake-up, Tourism Minister Renee Webb confirmed last night.

And she said Mrs. Hall Bean?s replacement will ?more than likely? come from outside the civil service, although another internal candidate may take over. reported last week that Mrs. Hall Bean told staff she was likely to be moving on and thanked them for their support. But Ms Webb said last night that Mrs. Hall Bean had not, contrary to our report, asked to be moved on.

?Yes, she will be moving as part of a restructuring process,? Ms Webb told . ?Did she resign? No. Did she ask to be removed? No. Does she want to stay? Yes.

?The Department of Tourism is looking at restructuring generally. Tourism is in crisis, and Government takes the view that not only do we need to look at our marketing and how we spend our dollars, but also the organisational structure and whether or not the organisation is efficient and delivering what Bermuda needs to remain competitive.

?The answer is we need to look at the internal structure as well as looking at our overseas offices and marketing initiatives, as well as the product if we are serious about addressing tourism.

?We are in the process of going through a metamorphosis and that?s what the country needs if we are to remain competitive. We can?t continue doing the same old, same old.?

When asked if Mrs. Hall Bean?s replacement would come from within the civil service or outside, Ms Webb said: ?More than likely from outside, but it could be either.?

A number of well-placed sources told that Mrs. Hall Bean asked to be moved to another position. And Bermuda Public Services Union confirmed it is investigating Tourism staff concerns about the move, and general concerns about Ms Webb?s ?abrasive? manner.

Mrs. Hall Bean would only say last week that she informed staff she would probably be moving to another top post, and described the likely job change as ?positive?. Ms Webb said last week that the local Bermuda Tourism office and North American office are not working in synch.

The review will look at closing offices, bringing some staff back to Bermuda and targeting marketing dollars more closely at the gateway cities on the US east coast rather spreading money more thinly to attract tourists from outside these core areas.