Tourism Minister David Dodwell yesterday outlined a series of new initiatives both in Bermuda and abroad aimed at stimulating new growth in the industry.

Mr. Dodwell was speaking during the Budget debate on the Tourism Department, which also includes Marine and Ports and the cruise ship industry.

Yesterday the Minister said helping tourism in Bermuda was about reacting to change, new technology and increased private and public sector partnerships.

Some areas were out of Bermuda's control, such as the health of another country's economy, and the visitor was now a "vigilante customer'' who could pick and choose destinations offering value for money.

"Last year in terms of tourist arrivals we were up 2.5 percent. I am disappointed, yes. Did we meet our objectives, no. But we did stop the decline.

"By stopping that decline, I would like to believe we are on the climb up,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

Figures, he added, for January and February showed a 14 percent increase in arrivals compared to last year.

Mr. Dodwell said a major focus on the department's efforts were on the airlines and he revealed talks were taking place with Delta Airlines about adding a second flight to Bermuda.

"We have asked Delta to help us with a second flight from Atlanta. We have also made a proposal to American Airlines of significant funding that puts on the table a substantial figure to help with a Miami to Bermuda flight.'' The Minister also said he would be looking at charter flights and announced a review of the charter policy.

A major part of Mr. Dodwell's presentation focused on marketing and he announced a series of initiatives.

Specific events, such as Cup Match, will be marketed abroad in a $1 million product marketing scheme and $500,000 has been given to the US-based Monitor Group which will highlight areas where the Tourism Department should invest.

"This is going to take time. It will not happen overnight. Some things will be subtle, some philosophical, but at the end of the day we will benefit from it,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

Marketing efforts will also include: running TV adverts on local US cable instead of national TV and increasing magazine advertising -- diverting $2 million to the ads.

Along with hotels, $500,000 will go to setting up a Camp Bermuda to entertain children coming to the Island and Bermuda will feature in the form of a colouring book inserted in a US children's magazine.

About $100,000 will go towards plugging hotels with under 25 rooms, a wreck week will be set up and a $1 million service strategy plan put into effect to improve service standards in hotels.

Government will also start a `Sunset Series' of evening shows involving Bermudians, more marketing will be directed at the UK and Europe and ways to increase watersports will be investigated.

"We have to be bold and aggressive. We are in a competitive world and if we are not bold and aggressive and recognise that we have to make changes it will not happen,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

The Minister said there were three problem areas in Bermuda -- entertainment, food and transport.

He said he was looking at a culinary competition and a food and wine festival to help improve standards and show the importance of food.

On transport a study of all previous reports is to start in order to carry out a complete review of the situation.

"I would appeal to the community. The word partnership is critical. It is all of us who have to deliver a vacation that the customer today expects,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen outlined the initiatives the PLP would put in place which included a sixth cruise ship, at the weekends, tax breaks, removal of duties and more resources to overseas sales teams.

He said there would be greater focus on niche markets such as deep sea fishing and even targeting places such as the United Nations and diplomats in Washington.

A PLP Government, he added, would examine the possibility of converting Club Med into a major new tourism complex and a conventions division would be established within the Tourism Department.

"The Finance Minister said in another debate that he did not see Bermuda returning to the Golden Years of tourism.

"But we cannot set our sights any lower than returning to those years. We have to stop sending out negative signals,'' said Mr. Allen. The Shadow Tourism Minister also stressed the need to attract a more upscale clientele to the Island, those who could afford Bermuda's higher costs.

He also pointed out the need for an increased profile on the American west coast, saying the department made an error in judgment when it cut the budget to the west coast satellite office.

Such inconsistent efforts said Mr. Allen, also characterised Government's approach to Europe and probably led to the failure of the Condor Air experiment.

"We need to get more proactive, we need to start getting our materials out there,'' he told the House.

Mr. Allen also called on Government to introduce seasonal scales on hotel and departure taxes. "They are ludicrous and downright alienating,'' he said.

Government's efforts to cultivate sports tourism also came under fire, with Mr. Allen suggesting Bermuda try to attract a US-based Major League Soccer team to the Island to conduct its training camp.

Meanwhile the loss of major corporate sponsors such Brut (sailing), Merrill Lynch (golf), and EXEL (tennis) was cause for concern, he claimed.

Mr. Allen also called on Government to reveal what was happening with Club Med on the Island's east end.

"Ten-thousand dollars a year to rent 55 acres -- can you believe it,'' he told the House.

"It may be the time has come to put it under the control of some kind of Wedco plan; we want it revitalised.'' St. George's South MP Rick Spurling responded to Mr. Allen's call for a sliding scale of tourism taxes, pointing out the departure tax was now included in the cost of the airline ticket and hotels get various reductions on duties.

Mr. Spurling then questioned what programmes Mr. Allen would slash to initiate his ideas.

"What the Shadow Minister never considers is how his programmes are going to be paid for,'' he replied.

Mr. Spurling then pointed out Bermuda's two main industries -- tourism and international business -- must build on the "synergy'' that exists between them, and that is slowly happening he said, with the formulation of joint marketing plans and shared data.

He suggested Government consider using international business to push Bermuda as a destination.

Mr. Spurling then defended tourism's much maligned "Let Yourself Go'' campaign, pointing out that in those areas where the ads were pushed air-arrivals to the Island were up between six to eight percent.

The PLP's Ottiwell Simmons told the House despite all the talk, tourism is really all about Bermuda.

And one of the reasons for the decline in the industry he said, has been the decline of made-in-Bermuda products, from entertainers to Bermudian food.

"People come here and they want to eat Bermuda fish or Bermuda lobster, but can't find it,'' he told the House.

"Tourists come to Bermuda looking for a change, but what they find is Bermuda is not Bermudian.'' Ministry of Tourism and Marine Services 1997/98 estimates Ministry Responsibility: To promote and control the tourist industry for the benefit of Bermuda and to oversee marine services.

Budget Estimate: $31,754,000 (last year $31,116) Budget Allocations Administration $1,560,000 Marketing $18,307,000 Sales $8,866,000 Activities $2,412,000 Management Information $603,000 TOURISM MINISTER -- David Dodwell said: "I would like to believe we are on the climb up.''