A top Bermuda businessman yesterday called for the Tourism Ministry to be disbanded after pouring scorn on a boost in visitors.

John Casling said its work should be turned over to an international marketing firm with a good track record in tourism.

And he added the ministry's civil servants should be reemployed in other Government areas.

Mr. Casling, who runs eight retail stores, also blasted "greedy'' Bermudians who had pushed up prices on the Island. And he said: Gaming licences should be offered to major hotels. In return, hotels should guarantee high standards and open 52 weeks a year; There should be two weekend cruise ships; The Wall Street image of Front Street should be changed, beginning with the transformation of car parks and docks into a waterfront park; Outdoor cafes should be set up across Bermuda; and Disband Tourism From Page 1 Former Tourism Board members should be redeployed to man airports in Bermuda's major gateway cities and give travellers $100 to come here.

Mr. Casling spoke out after latest figures showed a big boost in holidaymakers.

There were 108,241 visitors during the first four months of the year -- 6.3 percent more than those who came over the same period in 1995.

April alone brought 51,598 visitors, thanks to a bumper start to the cruise season.

Some 15,134 cruise ship passengers came in April, bringing the tally for the first four months to 15,251. This is 105.8 percent more than 1995.

Mr. Casling, however, was less than impressed.

"After all, we're looking at an increase over the worst year in Tourism's history.

"Hardly a crowning achievement for a Tourism Department with a brand new North American ad campaign and significant new initiatives in Europe.

"Comparing 1995 to 1996 is a useless exercise in short-term thinking.

Instead, we ought to be taking a look at the dramatic decline that occurred in our Tourism industry over the last two decades.

"These numbers not only tell the true story, they also provide insight into our problems and suggest some obvious solutions.'' Mr. Casling, president of Daina Ltd, said 28 tourist properties had closed in Bermuda since 1980.

And he pointed out Bermuda was the only major tourist resort that had seen no major construction in five years.

"When compared against the world class standards we claim to meet, even our showplaces have grown shabby.'' Mr. Casling said the number of guests staying in Bermuda's hotels had dropped from 500,000 in 1980 to 380,000 in 1995.

"But even these grim numbers paint a rosy picture of the situation when you consider that many of those guests are actually business travellers who may only stay on the Island one or two nights.

"Some industry insiders estimate that our actual resort visitor figures have dropped by as much as 50 percent during this time.'' Mr. Casling called for research on the ad campaign, to see if it was working.

He added greed was partly to blame for Bermuda's problems, turning it into a high-priced destination.

"And our poor work ethic has made us a high-priced destination that delivers poor service with an attitude.

"Though I think the greed factor is here to stay, attitudes and work ethics are alterable.

"Employers need to begin demanding a positive approach and our unions need to begin supporting industry-salvaging initiatives of this type.''