Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell has launched a ferocious attack on his opposite number for what he described as "700 days of hypocrisy and failure''.

Tourism Minister David Allen was pounded on his record so far, with the Southampton West MP hitting at dropping tourism numbers, lack of committed new development and his affinity for promotion, not advertising.

Mr. Dodwell timed his outburst as the PLP approaches its first two years in office.

And he claimed rumblings of discontent by tourism staff at his "hands-on'' approach of management were evidence of his insecurity.

"I think these are the actions of a desperate man, who has failed in his mission for 700 days,'' he said. "He shoots the messenger whenever the news is bad, he doesn't want to take the responsibility or blame.

Dodwell on the attack "He should be focusing on policy, staying at home, not wasting taxpayers money running all over the world to attract people when he should be here.

"People are saying this whole question of time, when he should be judged whether he is a success or failure. My view is that the signs are failure.'' Mr. Dodwell accused Mr. Allen of hypocrisy, doing an about face from his time as Shadow Minister, when he was vocal in his opposition to certain new developments and falling arrivals.

He said comments by the Minister on repositioning marketing to attract fewer numbers of wealthier visitors was simply a way of justifying the continued fall in arrivals.

And he questioned what happened to the promised "bottoming out'' or even 2.5 percent increase in air arrivals this year.

"I predict this year will be the lowest in the last 21 years,'' said Mr.

Dodwell.

As well as problems at home, he said there were concerns overseas that a lack of advertising was affecting the awareness amongst the public of the Island.

He attributed that to the amount of money spent on promotion and presentations, in particular hundreds of thousands of dollars he said were spent on roadshows and events such as the American Society of Travel Agents conferences.

The Shadow Minister said the promised plan for tourism never came after 100 days of Government and so he was forced to accept the private sector conduit plan for recovery.

No replies to faxed questions on Mr. Dodwell's claims were received from Mr.

Allen last night.