Bermudian hotel workers are set to ski-jump into secure off-season jobs at top Austrian winter resorts, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

For the Island has forged a unique link-up with the European country to swap hotel staff to cover slack periods in each country.

And it is hoped the scheme can be expanded to cover other countries -- and other industries on the Island.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell said yesterday that some hotels and restaurants with overseas links ran informal schemes to transfer staff so they could gain international experience.

But he said: "What we want to do is formalise this more and have the opportunity to exchange Bermudians for non-Bermudians.

"One offer given to us is an Austrian offer which would allow Bermudians to work there in the ski season in return for Austrians coming here in the summer season when we have to employ people from overseas.'' And he added: "I see this working from the waiter right up to middle management.

"It's a terrific opportunity for Bermudians to be exposed to different parts of the world and to see how these things are handled elsewhere.'' Mr. Dodwell was speaking after Premier Pamela Gordon unveiled the UBP's 36-page Keys to Partnership -- the flagship document laying out a new five-year plan.

The tourism section of the blueprint promised to "forge new links with foreign business and governments that offer training and employment opportunities.'' It added: "We will concentrate first on seasonal exchanges then move to develop longer-term placements.

"We will start with the hospitality industry and expand to other areas of employment to ensure that these placements provide real and tangible advancements for Bermudians in this new global market.'' The eight-point tourism plan also pledged to create "new financing strategies'' to utilise private sector funding to upgrade and and expand businesses in the visitor industry.

Mr. Dodwell said: "The objective is to be able to secure capital funding using banks and businesses, whether local or international, to basically establish a pool of funds which would be available for investment and probably leaning more towards small businesses.'' And the Tourism in 2002 plan also promises to boost development by cutting down on bureaucracy in a bid to attract new hotels and attractions. The document said: "New hotels and new venues for entertainment mean real jobs.'' It stressed: "We will not lower our standards or our environmental safeguards, but we will make the approval and development process simpler and speedier.'' Mr. Dodwell added: "We're calling this `from red tape to red carpet'.'' He explained one of the most common complaints from hoteliers was that "the bureaucracy, the red tape'' were not "user-friendly'' and took too long to give the green light to developments.

He said: "Some investors have been discouraged and the people we have at the table at the moment would like to see that simplified.'' The document also said Government would establish and support a new Tourism Authority -- a public/private body designed to help kick start the industry.

And it promised to: Negotiate new flights from the US using charters and regional services; Expand marketing of the Island as a tourist/convention destination in the winter months, as well as strengthen the Island in the European marketplace and; Showcase Bermudian entertainers across the Island in the high season.