flop, Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell claimed yesterday.

And he accused Tourism Minister David Allen of using the rules of the House of Assembly to dodge questions on the cost of a multi-nation series of tourism promotions earlier this year.

The ads -- which made unfavourable comparisons between Bermuda and other tourist destinations like Venice, Italy, Scotland and the Hamptons in New York State -- ran in the spring and summer.

But Mr. Dodwell said: "Numbers have gone down -- in the year to date we're down five percent at October.'' And he insisted the adverts caused resentment overseas -- particularly in the areas targeted for abuse.

Mr. Dodwell said: "Bermuda didn't need to lower itself and it didn't work anyway. It failed and we were left in dark for the rest of the summer with no radio advertising at all.'' In answers to questions tabled in the House of Assembly by Mr. Dodwell, Mr.

Allen said the two-month comparative campaign -- which cost around 12 percent of the total $11 million tourism advertising budget -- had served its purpose.

The production of the ads cost $96,000, with nearly $737,000 being spent to buy up radio spots and $517,000 being spent placing them in newspapers.

Mr. Allen said 75 percent of those surveyed who had heard the radio and newspaper adverts said Bermuda had "stuck in their minds'' as a result.

And he knocked criticism of the adverts -- which took a tongue-in-cheek poke at things like the Scottish weather and the smell of Venice.

He said: "There were millions of people who viewed these adverts across the US and elsewhere.'' But he said there had only been 12 complaints to the Bermuda Tourism main office in New York, "three or four'' to the Atlanta office and "a small number'' in Bermuda.

Mr. Allen -- when quizzed on the total cost of trips to the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, Chicago and elsewhere in the US, as well as Strasbourg, France -- said the rules of the House forbade further discussion on the US, Canadian and Chicago trips because they had already been debated as part of a supplementary estimate.

But Mr. Dodwell said: "To use the rules to avoid answering questions should be of concern to the people of this Country -- especially from a Government which says it wants to be transparent and accountable for its spending.'' And he insisted: "I've checked and there is no rule that says you don't have to answer the question.

"We have never seen the total figure -- the public hasn't been able to add up the cost of all these road shows.'' And Mr. Dodwell claimed: "I think the reason he didn't want to answer is that the amount of money spent on the road shows is very large -- I would say in the region of $1.5 million.'' He added: "While I supported some of them, particularly those in the US and Canada, in totality, it's not the most appropriate promotion for Bermuda.

"There was no private sector support for Strasbourg and even the Tourism Board didn't support it.'' But Mr. Allen said a three-country promotional tour -- involving events in London, Germany and Italy -- was $85,000, which was budgeted and charged to the 1998/99 financial year.

And he said the plans -- which included the Bermuda marketplace in London -- were approved under the former Government prior to last November's General Election.

Mr. Allen added: "These programmes were all executed with the support of the hotel community and other industry partners.'' Mr. Allen said a pilot programme for a "cruise and stay'' scheme attracted 200 people during the season and involved two hotels with a total of 300 room nights logged.

He added that the full programme will begin next season, using the new cruise caller, Crown Cruises Crown Dynasty .

But Mr. Dodwell said: "The figures so far are an unqualified disaster -- it's approximately 100 reservations and here we are about to expand it into the new cruise ship.'' And he questioned why only one or two hotels had signed up for the pilot scheme if the plan was a winner.