Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown yesterday assured the country that progress is being made on the Island's tourism front with new hotel developments on the horizon.

Debating the Budget as it relates to the Ministry of Tourism in the House of Assembly, Dr. Brown noted that $10.1 million has been set aside for capital development to fund the Port Royal Golf Course renovation.

However, the Premier's handling of the tourism product in general came under scathing attack from Opposition Leader Kim Swan who said all was far from well in the industry.

Continuing on the details of the Port Royal Golf Course, which will be open in January 2009, Dr. Brown said: "The renovation project currently under way fits into Tourism's stated policy of promoting Bermuda as a golf and spa resort.

"At 37 years old, the fabric of the course is currently undergoing a major renovation to improve its playability and its attractiveness.

"The layout of the course will be lengthened from 6,561 yards to 6,757 yards.

"Once Port Royal has been revamped as proposed, the course will be able to compete at a world level and the marketing opportunities will be plentiful.

"In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, Bermuda tourism has enjoyed three consecutive years of growth, we have not distinguished our business visitors from our leisure visitors — the hoteliers say that they use the same beds.

"Interest in Bermuda from a hotel development perspective has grown ... while the number of Bermudians working in the industry has decreased, we expect to see that change as the new hotel products come on line."

Government will also work to realise stronger year-round air arrivals to the Island, he said.

Government will look to expand Bermuda's geographic reach to develop new resources and new sources of business and enhance cruise ship partner contractual relationships to ensure synergy between the cruise and air segments.

Dr. Brown explained what he meant by enhancing cruise ship partnerships: "While I'm on that Mr. Chairman, in our negotiations with Norwegian Cruise Lines, there are things that they wanted from the Bermuda Government, they wanted us to concede in certain areas as they negotiated the contract with the help of Mark Telemaque and Larry Jacobs.

"And there were things that we wanted them to do to assist Bermuda. And so there's going to be an annual contribution to the St. George's Foundation and the Bermuda Heritage Association in St. George's — these are the kinds of things that we think make a contract viable."

But Mr. Swan claimed Government was trying to "make it look like all is well", pointing to missed opportunities in tourism.

He charged: "But anyone that knows tourism knows that with the increase in the amount of cruise arrivals that are in Bermuda, that does not correlate with the amount of jobs required to employ Bermudians.

"Mr. Chairman, the operative word during past administrations until now was balance and balance is certainly missing from the equation today, Mr. Chairman."

He accused the Government of failing to address the "seasonality" that comes with Bermuda tourism and said the period which is recognised as the off-season has widened.

"The off-season the Government would like to pretend doesn't exist has gotten wider and certainly is an area the Government needs to address."

Earlier, the Premier spoke about Government's plans to create a Hospitality Learning Centre to assist in providing young people with information about the tourism industry.

Mr. Swan pointed out: "But let us not forget it was indeed this Government in more recent years that did away with the training centre Bermuda once had — gave it away.

"The Stonington Beach Hotel was once a training facility that could have been expanded upon but instead it got cast aside and where's the training today? Another promise coming down the pipe, another feel good, sounds good initiative, but what has happened in the interim period?"

The Premier quipped from his seat across the isle, "we won the election", which caused Mr. Swan to continue: "Fewer Bermudians are in the (tourism) industry!

"I accept that you won the election, I accept that you won and I accept my role here today is to point out some of the deficiencies, notwithstanding your victory!"

Mr. Swan slammed the PLP Government for failing to utilise the Morgan's Point property in Southampton for tourism development when a deal emerged, when the party first took power in 1998.

"You can't look at Morgan's Point today, Mr. Chairman, without recognising the lost opportunity that is presented itself when it was by-passed in 1998.

"The deferral (by-passing Morgan's Point) has certainly been costly to Bermuda and our economy. There's been loss opportunities, Mr. Chairman.

"And the unfortunate thing is that the concepts that were left on the table and the plans – they failed because of politics Mr. Chairman."

Then Dr. Brown interrupted: "The deal that he's describing concerning Morgan's Point was in fact on the table but I mentioned to the House that a vision with no money remains just that – a vision.

"And not one of those entities that were around when we assumed the Government was sufficiently capitalised to carry forward on that deal – not one."

Furthermore, Mr. Swan revisited the issue of the axing of the old Stonington Beach Hotel in Paget, used to train Bermudians in the hospitality industry, reemphasising that Government gave the property away.

"As we look at developing our human capital, our Bermudians first, one of the biggest disappointments that has taken place over time was the giveaway of the Stonington Beach property.

"It was a national tragedy... we are now reinventing the wheel and it's a bit unfortunate, but we support, Mr. Chairman, the concept that was necessary to do away with and bring back at some time in the future.

"And whilst we look forward we cannot negate that the decision that was made has contributed to the decline and the turning away from the industry..."